by Ioan URSU, Horia Hulubei National Institute of Physics and Nuclear Engineering, Bucharest, Romania
Warning him about a young collaborator who claimed to be the author of a result belonging to him, his menthor, Professor Raduta replied:
„I give lectures in Physics, not in Ethics”
Late autumn, while leaving the Institute, we were greeted by a well-known professor of the Faculty of Physics:
“Reddy, would you like to come…, I am giving a lecture on the Nobel Prize in Physics…”
“Oh well, did you receive the Nobel Prize?!”
“Come on really, I am giving a talk about the one awarded this year.”
“I am so very sorry but I’m not coming, I only use to attend seminars of those who talk about their own achievements”
Moving on, I asked him: “Don’t you think, Professor, that was a little bit too harsh on him?…”
“Johnny boy, if you really want to learn something, follow only those who talk about what they have done, not those lecturing about what others have done”
Usually, every meeting with a traffic policeman would end with his driver licence suspended. Professor Răduță would invariably ask, while rolling down his car window:
“Hey you, what’s up, is there a regime change?! Are you in the lead now?”
Răduța, father and son, walking through the gates of the Institute, were welcomed by the sight of a blonde colleague slowly approaching from a distance:
“You see, father, the sun still rises in our way?!”
Late December, during a terrible blizzard, reaching the completely deserted Romanian customs at the Danube’s Iron Gates at full midnight, we were “welcomed” by a bored rontiersman telling us:
“Empty the car for control…”
Mister Răduță stopped me from fullfilling the request and addressed the guy as follows:
“I am Professor Răduță, returning from a long working stage, as guest of the Italian State. We passed through all the customs … treated will full respect …they wished us safe trip home…, if reaching home you are asking us to unload the car for control, I don’t consider myself your fellow countryman!”
“Ok, leave…,you’re cleared…”
Director of several editions of the Predeal Summer Schools, taking a short walk after dinner, he was approached by the local militiaman (Cioplea):
“Professor, please be careful …the bear may be around”
“Don’t worry, sir! I’ve already had a talk with him today …”
Here am I, time after time. Johnny the Bear (“Ion Ursu” in Romanian, Editor’s note)
PUBLISHED in Annals of the Academy of Romanian Scientists Series on Physics and Chemistry, Volume 11, No1