Paul Lamperti

Paul Lamperti, 74, of Damascus, Maryland, died of pancreatic cancer on February 4, 2009.

Mr. Lamperti was a retired government physicist who spent his entire 43-year career at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). During the first part of his career, which began in 1960 at the then-National Bureau of Standards, Mr. Lamperti developed the low-energy x-ray measurement standard for the U.S. In the latter part of the 1960s, Mr. Lamperti traveled to Paris, France in order to compare the U.S. standard with those of other national labs. That the standards were in excellent agreement was a significant achievement. Another notable achievement is that the technology developed from this standard is now being applied to develop the U.S. measurement standard for brachytherapy in the treatment of breast cancer.

Later in his career, Mr. Lamperti's work lead to the establishment of U.S. measurement standards for iodine-125 and paladium-103 seeds, both used in brachytherapy for the treatment of prostate cancer. After an FDA ruling that all radiation seed manufacturers test their products against the national standard, Mr. Lamperti was responsible for testing all radiation seeds that were sold in the U.S.

Throughout his entire career, Mr. Lamperti was also responsible for calibrating radiation measurement tools and transferring the standard to labs throughout the U.S.

Mr. Lamperti was the first member of his family to graduate from college, earning his B.S. in physics from Manhattan College in Bronx, New York in 1959. Immediately after graduation, he spent 6 months at General Atomic in San Diego, California, before beginning his government career.

He often noted that his most rewarding pastime was refinishing furniture.

Mr. Lamperti is survived by his wife of 51 years, Camille, two daughters, Deborah Lamperti and Suzanne Osborne, two brothers, Daniel and Albert, and 4 grandchildren.

Visitation: Visitation will be held at Stauffer Funeral Home, 8 E. Ridgeville Blvd, Mt. Airy, Maryland on Friday, Feb 6 from 2-4 and 7-9.

Services: A memorial mass will be held at St. Paul's Catholic Church, 9240 Damascus Road, Damascus, Maryland on Saturday, Feb 7 at 11am. Burial will be in the Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Hawthorne, New York on Monday, Feb 9.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Kline Hospice House, 7000 Kimmel Rd Mt. Airy, Maryland 21771.