- A pioneering force: Distinguished Professor Emeritus Stephen J. Pearton, Ph.D., died on Dec. 7. He was known for advancing technologies that power modern computing, energy systems and transportation.
- A lasting UF legacy: Over three decades at UF, Pearton shaped generations of engineers, collaborated across disciplines and elevated the university’s global reputation in semiconductor innovation.
- Remembered for his brilliance and curiosity: Colleagues recall Pearton as a gifted scientist, mentor and friend whose humor and devotion to family left a profound mark on everyone who knew him.
The Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering is mourning the loss of Stephen J. Pearton, Ph.D., a distinguished professor emeritus in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE), who died on Dec. 7.
A world-renowned materials scientist, Pearton was celebrated for his pioneering work in semiconductor technology and his decades of service to his beloved University of Florida.
After earning his Ph.D. in physics from the University of Tasmania in 1981, he held research appointments at the Australian Atomic Energy Commission and the University of California, Berkeley. In 1984, he worked for AT&T Bell Labs in Murray Hill, New Jersey, where he met his future wife, Cammy Abernathy.
The pair joined MSE as full professors in 1993. Abernathy would later become the College of Engineering dean for 13 years starting in 2009.
With a career spanning more than four decades, Pearton’s specialty was semiconductor technology. He was known for his expertise in plasma etching, ion implantation, ohmic contacts and developing materials for high-temperature electronics.
Colleagues contend his esteemed career advanced technologies that touch many aspects of modern life, including computing, energy systems and transportation. In fact, his work earned him the J.J. Ebers Award from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, the American Physical Society’s David Adler Lectureship and the Electrochemical Society’s Gordon E. Moore Medal for outstanding achievement in solid state science and technology.
He became a Fellow with the American Physical Society, the American Vacuum Society, IEEE, the Materials Research Society, SPIE and the Electrochemical Society. In 2001, UF named him a distinguished professor. He assumed emeritus status upon his retirement in 2020 and continued to conduct funded research.
“Steve was a close collaborator and friend. When I joined UF in 2000, I shared an office suite with him. He was instrumental in helping me transition to academia,” said David P. Norton, Ph.D., UF’s vice president for research. “We coauthored many journal articles together. He was among the top semiconductor processing experts in the world, a prolific researcher as demonstrated by over 2,300 scientific articles of which he authored or coauthored.”
Pearton wrote 37 book chapters and 12 books, and his work has been cited over 128,000 times. He anchored more than 250 invited talks at conferences. Known for his generosity with students and collaborators, he helped launch the careers of many young engineers and scientists who continue his legacy around the world.
Pearton was known for his humor — a “wicked sense of humor,” Abernathy noted in his obituary — competitive spirit and love of Gator sports, particularly volleyball and softball.
“Those who worked closely with Steve knew him as thoughtful, curious and committed to pushing the boundaries of what was possible. He had a gift for bringing complex ideas to life in practical ways and for inspiring others to do the same,” said College of Engineering Interim Dean Warren E. Dixon, Ph.D. “His presence on our campus will be greatly missed.”
He valued time with his family and loved helping his son, Max, in sports. He and Abernathy were married for 32 years.
Pearton would have been 68 on Jan. 15. A memorial will start at 11:30 a.m. on Jan. 10 at the Williams-Thomas Westarea Chapel, 823 NW 143rd St., Newberry. The family will begin receiving friends at 11 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Pearton’s honor may be made to the American Heart Association.