Muhammad Arif

Muhammad Arif has passed away in his home in Frederick, MD on the morning of November 27th 2018, surrounded by family.

Arif was born in Madaripur, Bangladesh, as the first of four children to Nurjehan and Muhammad Selim. From primary school through college, he was known for excelling in his

studies. He attended Dhaka University, and later received a scholarship to continue his education at the University of Ohio in the United States. He attended graduate school to obtain a PhD

degree in the field of physics at the University of Missouri, Colombia in 1986.

Arif met his future wife Mary Carol while at the University of Missouri. The couple returned to Mary Carol’s home state of Maryland to start a family. Arif accepted work in 1988 at

the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in Gaithersburg, MD, where he contributed numerous advancements to the field of neutron imaging. He received many awards

in his thirty-year career, including the Gold Medal from the US Department of Commerce, the US R&D 100 Award, the Physical Sciences Award of the Washington Academy of Sciences, as

well as several fellowships. His research yielded several "firsts" in the study of fuel cells and hydrogen storage, all of which utilized neutron imaging. Arif served as a respected group leader

and fellow for many years before his retirement in 2018.

Arif traveled extensively for work, visiting over 25 countries in his lifetime. Among his favorite places to travel were Switzerland, Japan, and Hawaii. His worldly knowledge made him

an excellent partner in conversation and a trusted source of guidance. Those who knew him well respected his unbiased perspective on current events and pragmatic approach to problem solving.

In addition to spending time with his daughter, he had a love of gardening, kayaking, studying airplanes, dining out, tinkering with technology, Star Wars, and elephants. He will be

remembered by all for his gentle personality and good will towards others.

Arif is preceded in death by his father, Muhammad Selim. He is survived by Mary Carol, his daughter Sabrina, his mother Nurjehan, his brothers Muhammad Asif and Muhammad

Haseeb, and his sister Rebekka Hasan. He leaves behind many friends and colleagues in all corners of the earth.

A celebration of Arif’s life will be held on Thursday, November 29th at 2:00pm at Stauffer Funeral Home in Frederick, Maryland.