The CHORUS board of directors honored retiring board member Fred Dylla at a dinner in Washington D.C. earlier this month following the Annual Members Meeting. Fred was involved at the very conception of CHORUS and has served as a founding board member since 2013. Fred’s unique career as a research physicist in a government lab, and then as Executive Director of the American Institute of Physics, was integral in helping CHORUS develop partnerships with key U.S. government funding agencies.

Fred was honored in short speeches by CHORUS Executive Director Howard Ratner and fellow founding board member Thane Kerner of Silverchair. Jeffrey Salmon from U.S. Department of Energy (retired) read aloud a laudatory letter from Brian Hitson (DOE) and shared his own anecdotes of working with Fred. Many other colleagues shared their stories about Fred and toasted his contributions to the industry. Exemplifying his knack for building relationships, and for telling stories, Fred had a personal comment for every person attending the dinner.

Those who have had the pleasure of working with Fred or who have benefited from his leadership of numerous publishing industry committees know that he isn’t one to remain idle. His “retirement” plans include editing a book for Oxford University Press, involvement in local Delaware not-for-profit organizations, baking, working on various carpentry projects and his woodcut art.

To most on the board, Fred is known as Member #1. He was always the first to make a motion, and if someone beat him to it, he was quick to offer a second. All of us at CHORUS will miss Fred’s enthusiasm, advocacy and thoughtfulness, and we wish him well in his retirement.