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Portraits by Lotfi Zadeh

February 27, 2018 by Magdalene L. Crowley

  • Lotfi Zadeh-Computer Science Division-Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences UC Berkeley
    Self-portrait of photographer CS Prof. Lotfi Zadeh (1921-2017), known as the "father of fuzzy logic"
  • Alexander Kerensky-Prime Minister Russia WWI
    Alexander Kerensky (1881-1970), key figure in the Russian February Revolution of 1917 (photo: Lotfi Zadeh)
  • Anahid Ordjanian New York
    Anahid V. Ordjanian, future author (photo: Lotfi Zadeh)
  • Albert Novikoff-Mathematics NY University
    Albert B. J. Novikoff, professor of Mathematics at New York University, Courant Institute (photo: Lotfi Zadeh)
  • Edward Teller-Physics UC Berkeley
    Theoretical physicist Edward Teller (1908-2003), known colloquially as "the father of the hydrogen bomb" (photo: Lotfi Zadeh)
  • Christina Maslach-Psychology UC Berkeley
    Prof. Christina Maslach, a psychologist known for her research on "occupational burnout" (photo: Lotfi Zadeh)
  • Charles Susskind-Electrical Engineering Computer Sciences UC Berkeley
    EE Prof. Charles Susskind, co-founder of bioengineering studies at U.C. Berkeley (photo: Lotfi Zadeh)
  • Archil Eliashvili-Institute of Cybernetics- Tblisi Georgia
    Cyberneticist Archil Eliashvili of the eponymous Archil Eliashvili Control Systems Institute in Tbilisi, Georgia (photo: Lotfi Zadeh)
  • Claude Shannon-Information Theory MIT
    Mathematician, electrical engineer, and cryptographer Claude Shannon (1916-2001), known as the "father of information theory" (photo: Lotfi Zadeh)
  • Augusta Nortner Berkeley CA
    Augusta Nortner, Berkeley (photo: Lotfi Zadeh)
  • Clement Attlee-Prime Minister UK
    Clement Attlee (1883-1967), Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1945-51 (photo: Lotfi Zadeh)
  • L. Bryce Boyer-Psychiatry Oakland
    Psychiatrist and psychoanalyst L. Bryce Boyer (1916-2000), who pioneered the concept of "countertransference" (photo: Lotfi Zadeh)
  • David Blackwell-Statistics UC Berkeley
    Statistics Prof. David Blackwell (1919-2010), co-creator of the Rao-Blackwell theorem and pioneer in game theory (photo: Lotfi Zadeh)
  • Ballerina San Francisco
    An unidentified ballerina (photo: Lotfi Zadeh)
  • Darius Milhaud-Composer Mills College Oakland
    Prolific composer Darius Milhaud (1892-1974), widely considered one of the key modernist composers (photo: Lotfi Zadeh)
  • Charles Townes-Physics UC Berkeley (Nobel Laureate)
    Physicist Charles Townes (1915-2015), inventor of the maser and laser, and winner of the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1964 (photo: Lotfi Zadeh)
  • David Huffman-Computer Science UC Santa Cruz
    David A. Huffman (1925-1999), one of the pioneers of mathematical origami (photo: Lotfi Zadeh)
  • Barbara Humphrey-Electrical Engineering Computer Science UC Berkeley
    Barbara Humphrey, Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences (photo: Lotfi Zadeh)
  • Harry Roth-Dermatology San francisco
    Dermatologist Harry Roth (1927-2013) started a clinic at UCSF specializing in atopic eczema (photo: Lotfi Zadeh)
  • Edgar Varese-Composer Electronic Music
    Composer Edgard Varèse (1883-1965), known as "the father of electronic music" (photo: Lotfi Zadeh)
  • Earl Warren-Chief Justice Supreme Court
    Earl Warren (1891-1974), Governor of California (1943-53) and Justice of the Supreme Court (1953-69)(photo: Lotfi Zadeh)
  • Pamela Rhodes with Rene-Wife of John Rhodes Mathematics UC Berkeley
    Pamela Rhodes and child Rene (photo: Lotfi Zadeh)
  • John Rhodes-Mathematics UC Berkeley
    Mathematician John Rhodes is known for his work in the theory of semigroups and finite state automata (photo: Lotfi Zadeh)
  • John Rhodes with Rene-Mathematics UC Berkeley
    John Rhodes and child, Rene. Rhodes is known for his work on algebraic approaches to differential equations (photo: Lotfi Zadeh)
  • Harry Truman- President United States
    Harry Truman (1884-1972), President of the United States from 1945-53 (photo: Lotfi Zadeh)
  • Jesse Quatse-Computer Science San Francisco
    Jesse T. Quatse (1935-2013) designed the world’s first portable computer terminal in 1965 (photo: Lotfi Zadeh)
  • Pamela McCorduck-Writer New York City
    Author Pamela McCorduck wrote books on the philosophical significance of AI and the role of women in tech (photo: Lotfi Zadeh)
  • Eric Weichardt-American Ballet
    American Ballet Theater dancer Eric Weichardt (photo: Lotfi Zadeh)
  • Heinz Weichardt-Computer Science IBM San Jose
    Jewish Nazi Heinz Weichardt (1915–2011), a physicist in the field of electron-optics (photo: Lotfi Zadeh)
  • David Price-Radiology UCSF
    UCSF radiologist David Price (photo: Lotfi Zadeh)
  • Fay Zadeh-Wife of Lotfi Zadeh
    Author Fay Zadeh, Lotfi's wife. (photo: Lotfi Zadeh)
  • Lotfi n Fay
    Fay and Lotfi Zadeh (photo: Lotfi Zadeh)
  • Rahim Zadeh-Father of Lotfi Zadeh
    Lotfi's father, Rahim Zadeh (photo: Lotfi Zadeh)
  • Norman Zadeh-Entrepreneur Los Angeles-Son of Lotfi Zadeh
    Lotfi's son, Norman Zadeh (now spelled Zada) who became an expert in applied mathematics (photo: Lotfi Zadeh)
  • Evgenii Mischenko-Mathematics Steklov Institute Moscow
    Mathematician Evgenii Frolovich Mischenko (1922-2010), one of the creators of modern mathematical control theory and the theory of oscillations (photo: Lotfi Zadeh)
  • Glenn Seaborg-Chemistry UC Berkeley (Nobel Laureate)
    Chemist Glenn Seaborg (1912-1999), co-discoverer and first synthesizer of plutonium, and champion of arms control. (photo: Lotfi Zadeh)
  • Janice VanDuzer-Electrical Engineering Computer Sciences UC Berkeley
    Janice Van Duzer, wife of EECS Prof. Theodore Van Duzer (photo: Lotfi Zadeh)
  • Jacques Barzun-Historian Columbia University
    Historian Jacques Barzun (1907-2012), known for his studies of cultural history and the history of ideas (photo: Lotfi Zadeh)
  • Igor Yuskevitch-Ballet Dancer
    Ballet dancer and choreographer Igor Youskevitch (1912-1994), said to be one of the greatest male ballet dancers of the 20th century (photo: Lotfi Zadeh)
  • James Nelson-Mechanical Engineering UC Berkeley
    James Nelson, Mechanical Engineering (photo: Lotfi Zadeh)
  • Loretta Gray-Wife of Jim Gray Microsoft Corp
    Loretta Gray, wife of database pioneer Jim Gray (photo: Lotfi Zadeh)
  • Jerzy Nayman-Statistics UC Berkeley
    Mathematician and statistician Jerzy Neyman (1894-1981), co-inventor of the Neyman-Pearson test (photo: Lotfi Zadeh)
  • Dog
    Dog (photo: Lotfi Zadeh)
  • Majid Rahnema-Council General of Iran-San Francisco
    Diplomat Majid Rahnema (1924-2015) was the Minister of Science and Higher Education in Iran from 1957-71 (photo: Lotfi Zadeh)
  • John Ragazzini-Control Theory New York University
    John Ragazzini (1912-1988) co-pioneered z-transform with Lotfi Zadeh (photo: Lotfi Zadeh)
  • Wayne Morse-US Senate
    Wayne Morse (1900-1974), Oregon Senator (1960-68) known for his opposition to the Vietnam war (photo: Lotfi Zadeh)
  • Miss Israel
    Miss Israel, unidentified (photo: Lotfi Zadeh)
  • John Whinnery-Electrical Engineering Computer Sciences UC Berkeley
    EE Prof. John Whinnery (1916-2009), who was known for his work in the fields of microwave theory and laser experimentation (photo: Lotfi Zadeh)
  • Laurent Schwartz-Mathematics University of Paris
    Mathematician Laurent Schwartz (1914-2002), famous for pioneering the theory of distributions (photo: Lotfi Zadeh)
  • Lev Pontryagin-Mathematics Steklov Institute Moscow
    Blind mathematician Lev Pontryagin (1908-1988) made a number of major discoveries in mathematical fields including algebraic topology (photo: Lotfi Zadeh)
  • LS Pontryagin-Mathematics Steklov Institute Moscow
    Mathematician Lev Pontryagin (1908-1988) pioneered differential topology(photo: Lotfi Zadeh)
  • Galina Vishnevskaya-Opera Singer-Bolshoi Theater Moscow Wife of M. Rostropovich
    Opera Soprano Galina Vishnevskaya (1926-2012), wife of cellist Mstislav Rostropovich (photo: Lotfi Zadeh)
  • Mstislav Rostropovich-Cellist Moscow
    Cellist Mstislav Rostropovich (1927-2007), said to be one of the greatest cellists of the 20th century (photo: Lotfi Zadeh)
  • Jacob Feldbaum-Dermatology Kaiser Oakland
    Dermatologist Jacob Feldbaum (photo: Lotfi Zadeh)
  • Robin Pemantle Berkeley
    Robin Pemantle, now a professor of mathematics and computer information science at U. Penn specializing in probability theory (photo: Lotfi Zadeh)
  • Nikolay Bogolyubov-Mathematics-Steklov Institute Moscow
    Mathematician Nikolay Bogolyubov (1909-1992), known for contributions to quantum field theory, statistical mechanics, and dynamical systems (photo: Lotfi Zadeh)
  • Patricia Naghdi-Mechanical Engineering UC Berkeley
    Patricia Naghdi (d. 1974), wife of Iranian Mechanical Engineering professor Paul Naghdi (1924-94)(photo: Lotfi Zadeh)
  • Steve Naghdi San Francisco
    Steve Naghdi, San Francisco (photo: Lotfi Zadeh)
  • Lester Dubins-Mathematics UC Berkeley
    Mathematician Lester Dubins (1920-2010) was known primarily for his research in probability theory (photo: Lotfi Zadeh)
  • Peter Ustinoff-Actor
    Actor Peter Ustinov (1921-2004)(photo: Lotfi Zadeh)
  • Peter Elias-Electrical Engineering Computer Sciences MIT
    Peter Elias (1923-2001), a pioneer in the field of information theory (photo: Lotfi Zadeh)
  • Patricia Holt-Attorney San Francisco
    Patricia Holt (photo: Lotfi Zadeh)
  • Richard Bellman-Mathematics University of Southern California
    Applied mathematician Richard Bellman (1920-1984), who introduced the dynamic programming method (photo: Lotfi Zadeh)
  • Richard Nixon-President United States
    Richard Nixon (1913-1994), President of the United states from 1969-74 (photo: Lotfi Zadeh)
  • Samuel Eilenberg-Mathematics Columbia University
    Mathematician Samuel Eilenberg (1913-1998), who co-founded category theory (photo: Lotfi Zadeh)
  • Sarah Hackett-Chemistry UC Berkeley
    Sarah Hackett, Chemistry, UC Berkeley (photo: Lotfi Zadeh)
  • Svtoslav Richter-Pianist Moscow
    Pianist Sviatoslav Richter (1915-1997), generally regarded as one of the greatest pianists of the 20th century (photo: Lotfi Zadeh)
  • Tony Oppenheim-Mechanical Engineering UC Berkeley
    Mechanical Engineering Professor Anthony K. Oppenheim, expert in propulsion dynamics and detonation research (photo: Lotfi Zadeh)
  • Truman Botts-Mathematics Washington DC
    Mathematician Truman Botts (photo: Lotfi Zadeh)
  • Sandra Bias San Francisco
    Sandra Bias, San Francisco (photo: Lotfi Zadeh)
  • William Knowland-US Senate
    William Knowland (1908-1974), California Senator (1945-59) (photo: Lotfi Zadeh)
  • Emilio Segre-Physics UC Berkeley Nobel Laureate
    Physicist Emilio Segrè (1905-2989), Nobel Prize winner and a group leader for the Manhattan Project (photo: Lotfi Zadeh)
  • Warren McCulloch-Cybernetics MIT
    Neurophysiologist and early cyberneticist Warren McCulloch (1898-1969)(photo: Lotfi Zadeh)

At the beginning of his career, Prof. Lotfi Zadeh enjoyed capturing the people around him in a series of black and white portraits. He joined the EECS faculty in 1959 after stints at Columbia and Princeton.  As department Chair from 1963-68, he led the charge to change the name of the department from Electrical Engineering to Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences, making Berkeley the first university to do so.  Over the course of his pioneering career, he traveled widely and held a variety of visiting appointments at other institutions like MIT, IBM Research, SRI International, and Stanford.

Lotfi’s life was built on a broad cultural and political framework.  He was born in Azerbaijan to a Russian mother and local father, and grew up in Iran before moving to the States.  He spoke a number of languages, surrounded himself with a cosmopolitan crowd, and always kept his mind open to new ideas.  He cultivated many friendships with people in all walks of life, all over the world.  His expansive interests are reflected in the subjects of his portraits, which were taken during the first two decades of his career.  Everyone appealed to him: beautiful people, politicians, mathematicians, scientists, artists, engineers, theorists, even the occasional dermatologist.

Filed Under: Faculty, History, People

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