Physicist and Columbia Resident Dr. Uri D. Feldman Dies at 87

March 1, 2023 JMORE Staff

Dr. Uri D. Feldman was "a great scientist, and most importantly a great man," wrote his friend and former Naval Research Laboratory colleague, Dr. Enrico Landi. (Photo courtesy of Sol Levinson & Bros.)

Considered a leader in his field. Dr. Uri D. Feldman died last Sunday, Feb. 26. The Columbia resident was 87.

A world-renowned physicist, Feldman served from 1971 to 1973 as the builder and founding director of the Wise Observatory near the Negev desert town of Mitzpe Ramon. As Israel’s only professional astronomical observatory, the Wise Observatory is owned and operated by Tel Aviv University.

“After the dedication ceremonies were over [in October of 1971], I reflected on the two long years that I spent building the observatory,” Feldman wrote in 2001 on the 50th anniversary of the Wise Observatory. “I believe that I was qualified for the job. … I definitely learned a lot from building the observatory.”

Israel’s Wise Observatory was built by Dr. Uri Feldman.

In 1965, Feldman earned a doctorate in physics from Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Besides his tenure at Tel Aviv University, Feldman worked at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt and the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C.

Over the course of his career, he wrote and published more than 500 scientific articles in various journals.

In his spare time, Feldman enjoyed tutoring his grandchildren in physics and math.

“Uri lived a simple, integrity-filled life [and] will be remembered as a great man whose impact will be forever felt by his family,” read a post written by his family members on the website of Sol Levinson & Bros. funeral home.

Also on the Levinson website, Feldman’s former colleague at the Naval Research Laboratory, Dr. Enrico Landi, wrote, “Uri has been a great scientist, and most importantly a great man. His intelligence, his wisdom, and most of all his friendship have been one of the most beautiful gifts I received in my life.

“Our chats about science and everything else in his NRL office at 6:30 in the morning form some of my dearest memories and are still a source of inspiration both in my work and in my personal life,” he wrote. “My deepest condolences to all his family.”

Feldman is survived by his sons, Doron (Debbie) Feldman, Ronen (Kim) Feldman and Tomer (Shelley) Feldman; his sisters, Nitza (itzik) Itzkovitz and Aliza (Meier) Sternfeld; his sister-in-law, Erela Israelit; and his grandchildren, Leeshi, Daniel, Jacob, Sam, Ariel, Naomi (fiance Grant Johnson), Talia, Erin, and Leah.

He was predeceased by his wife, Dalia Feldman (nee Israelit), and his parents Shoshana and Chaim Feldman.

Funeral services for Feldman were held Mar. 1 at the Chapel at Judean Memorial Gardens in Olney. Contributions in his memory may be sent to Lubavitch Center of Howard County, 770 Howes Lane, Columbia, Maryland 21044, or Ellicott City Chabad, 9785 Old Frederick Rd., Route 99, Ellicott City, Maryland 21042.

The family will be in mourning at 2922 Excelsior Springs Ct. in Ellicott City.