Private services have been held for Howard T. Powell, a laser physicist at the Lab, who died Nov.15 after a heart attack in Washington, D.C. He was 56. Powell was born in Woodland, Wash., and received a full scholarship to California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, where he graduated, cumlaude, with a bachelor's degree in Physics in 1966. He earned his Ph.D. in 1971 at Cornell University. Before coming to the Lab in 1973, he spent two years at McDonnell Douglas Research Lab in St.Louis, Mo. Throughout his history at the Lab, Powell held such notable positions as program leader of Laser Science and Technology, where he worked with Nova, oversaw various laser developments for NIF, and numerous DOE and DoD laser applications. Most recently, he was working with the NIF AD's office in planning strategic directions for laser and science technology. He is a co-recipient of three R&D 100 awards for scientific and technological innovation, winning in 1988, 1994 and 1997. A public speaker and mentor to other scientists and graduate students, Powell also loved art and American history. He collected early American furniture and glassware, and also produced his own wines from homegrown grapes. In the local community, he coached soccer and was active in the Livermore Valley Tennis Club. Surviving family members include his wife of 33 years, Mary; his son, Thomas, and daughter, Diana; his mother, sister and brother. Private memorial gatherings were held at the Lab and at Livermore's Memory Garden. Contributions in his memory may be made to The Nature Conservancy or the Audubon Society. The Lab is also creating a scholarship in his name to encourage the pursuit of physics.