Fred Noel and Sally Spiess Fellowship in Physical Oceanography

The Spiess family has created a fellowship at Scripps Institution of Oceanography to honor both Fred Noel Spiess and his wife Sally. The Fred Noel and Sally Spiess Fellowship in Physical Oceanography will provide support to first-year graduate students studying physical oceanography.

About Fred and Sally

After a distinguished career as a naval officer and submariner during World War II, Fred Spiess went on to earn advanced degrees at Harvard and UC Berkeley.  Fred came to Scripps in 1952, where he became a professor of oceanography in the Marine Physical Laboratory (MPL) and had a long and successful scientific career that spanned more than 50 years. Fred was widely known for his contributions to the development of innovative ocean technology. He was tireless in defining new ways to look at the deep ocean and seafloor. He designed and built instruments, took them to sea for deployment and led numerous expeditions to investigate the deepest parts of the world's oceans. He was also co-inventor of the one-of-a-kind FLIP, the Floating Instrument Platform.

"Fred Spiess was the embodiment of an oceanography pioneer and his influence in marine science will be remembered forever," said Charles Kennel, former director of Scripps Oceanography. "On the Scripps campus he will be celebrated as someone who made the type of pivotal contributions that made this institution a world leader in its first 100 years."

Sally Spiess was a tireless advocate who dedicated boundless energy to Scripps. She was a key participant in preserving the Old Scripps Building as a National Historic Landmark. When Fred Spiess and co-developer Fred Fisher launched the newly completed FLIP research platform in 1962, Sally was FLIP's official sponsor, christening the ship at its launching in Portland, Oregon.

Sally Spiess

Sally enjoyed the life of an oceanographer's wife, which for her included filling her home with guests on a regular basis. Over the years the Spiesses entertained a steady flow of graduate students, scientists, and other academics as they passed through Scripps for committee meetings, seminars, and recruiting visits. The most distinguished oceanographers of the 20th century passed through the Spiess kitchen. Sally entertained simply and often. She was hostess for a gathering of students and faculty just a few days before her death.

Honor Fred and Sally by Giving to the Spiess Fellowship

Donate to the Spiess Fellowship and double your gift. Fred and Sally's five children are offering to match gifts, on a dollar-for-dollar basis, up to a cumulative total of $100,000.

Read the letter from Fred and Sally's five children (pdf)

Questions?

Have questions about supporting the Spiess Fellowship? Scripps Development is happy to help. Contact Lawrance Bailey at (858) 534-7171 or lbailey@ucsd.edu.