Dear Friends,

     I have been convinced for many years that the greatest treasure of
doing science, humanly speaking, is the deep friendships that are built over
the years. Thus it is with sadness that I must tell those of you who have
not yet heard that our mutual friend John Pople died yesterday.  John was a
recipient of the WATOC Schroedinger Medal, a WATOC Fellow, and a member of
the WATOC Board from its inception.  John was a private person. On February
15 Hilary Pople, John's daughter, wrote to a group of twelve including Paul
Schleyer, Leo Radom and me. Hilary and later George Schatz related that John
underwent colon surgery the week before, and the surgeons discovered a
massive spread of the disease to the liver.  Hilary indicated that the
family was gathering, but that John was too weak for other visitors or
telephone calls.  Today Hilary wrote to say that yesterday (March 15) John
died peacefully, surrounded by his family. The memorial service for John
will be held Monday, March 29 at 11:30 AM at the First United Methodist
Church, 516 Church Street, Evanston.  Evanston is just north of Chicago.
All WATOC Members and friends are welcome.

     Through the good offices of Leo Radom, I came to know John and Joy
Pople quite well.  While on leave at the Australian National University, the
Poples and the Schaefers lived a few hundred yards away during four or five
beautiful Southern Hemisphere summers.  My children loved to visit Mrs.
Pople.  John and I would have lunch together every day with Leo,
supplemented by many hours of discussions on science and other topics.  John
was a quiet man, but a wonderful friend for those who were fortunate enough
to get to know him well.  I believe that John felt his time had come.  He
never really recovered from the loss of his beloved wife Joy two years ago.
He had accomplished what he wanted and was at peace with God.  We will miss
him greatly.

                        Very truly yours,

                        Fritz Schaefer