Passing of Professor Emeritus Dr. Harrison H. Barrett

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The Wyant College of Optical Sciences honors the memory of Professor Emeritus Dr. Harrison H. Barrett, a distinguished scholar and cherished member of our community who passed away on November 22, 2025, in Tucson. Dr. Barrett’s impact on the College, the University of Arizona, and the broader scientific community will be felt for generations. Those wishing to read more about his life and legacy can reference the 2020 feature article, Reflections on Harrison H. Barrett, available here.

Dr. Barrett’s remarkable career spanned more than five decades and included appointments in Optical Sciences, Radiology, Biomedical Engineering, Applied Mathematics, and the Arizona Cancer Center. He served as Acting Director of the Optical Sciences Center in 1983 and was named a Regents Professor in 1990, holding the title in both Optical Sciences and Medical Imaging.

His contributions to research, education, and the broader scientific community were substantial. Dr. Barrett served as editor of the Journal of the Optical Society of America (JOSA) from 1985–1991, advised 64 PhD students and 18 master’s students, and was recognized with numerous awards, including the OSA/SPIE Joseph W. Goodman Writing Award (with co‑author Kyle J. Myers) for the seminal textbook Foundations of Image Science.

In addition to his scholarly achievements, Dr. Barrett and his wife, Catherine, established the Harrison H. and Catherine C. Barrett Endowed Chair in Optical Sciences for Cancer Imaging, a joint position between the Wyant College and the University of Arizona Cancer Center. This endowed chair continues to support transformative work at the intersection of optics and cancer imaging, ensuring that the Barrett family’s impact endures.

Dr. Barrett is remembered not only for his scientific brilliance but also for his humility, warmth, and dedication to advancing knowledge for the benefit of humanity. His absence will be deeply felt across the college and beyond.

The Wyant College of Optical Sciences extends heartfelt condolences to Dr. Barrett’s family, friends, colleagues, and all who had the privilege of knowing him.

A celebration of Dr. Barrett’s life is being planned for March at the Wyant College of Optical Sciences, with additional details to be shared as they become available.