18
39
th IEEE PHOTOVOLTAIC SPECIALISTS CONFERENCE
Manuel Jesus Romero
,
age 39, was
born in Spain near Cadiz. He is survived
in Colorado by his loving wife, Nuria
Lopez, his beautiful daughter, Virginia
del Mar Romero Lopez, and by his
parents and family living in Spain.
Dr. Romero, known to many friends
and co-workers as “MJ,” was a Senior
Scientist at the U.S. Department of
Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
in Golden, Colorado, where he has worked since 2001,
after receiving his Ph.D. from the Department of Materials
Science and Engineering at the University of Cadiz,
Spain. He had earlier received his B.S. in Chemistry, and
his M.S. in Materials Science and Engineering from the
University of Cadiz. At NREL, Dr. Romero worked in the
Measurements and Characterization Division focusing
on Analytical Microscopy, Renewable Electricity and
End Use Systems. He published more than 90 papers
in highly prestigious journals, and delivered numerous
talks, by invitation, at many international conferences. He
was widely recognized for his efforts with multiple awards
he received from the U.S. government and professional
organizations. He was also working with middle school
teachers in Denver and Jefferson Counties to talk with
students about science, and to make science attractive to
young people, both in English, and in Spanish, which was
his first language. Dr. Romero also mentored students from
local universities, who would benefit from his knowledge
and research in renewable energy.
Personally, Dr. Romero was an excellent competitive
tennis player. Further, he enjoyed hiking and was an avid
mountain biker. He truly loved the mountains, whether in
Colorado, elsewhere in the U.S., or in his native Spain. He
had a special ability to make Spanish paella -- seafood,
meat and rice – that was the best to be found in Colorado.
He was very proud of his Celtic heritage from the Galician
area of northwest Spain, and he loved the music of that
region. He was a brilliant, witty and charming man, and he
will be deeply missed by his family, friends and colleagues.
IN MEMORIUM
IN MEMORIUM
