Troy, N.Y. - International acoustician J. Christopher Jaffe, Class of 1949, is one of eight new members of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's Alumni Hall of Fame.

The Norwalk resident is recognized as one of the foremost concert and theater-hall acousticians for his innovative architectural designs based on acoustic quality. Over the last four decades, he worked as a consultant on more than 250 performance halls, including Severance Hall in Ohio, Bass Performance Hall in Texas, the Concert Hall at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., and the Centro Nacional de las Artes Opera House in Mexico City.

Jaffe is principal and chairman of Jaffe Holden Acoustics. He founded the South Norwalk firm in 1958. He has taught at Rensselaer, where he is founder of the master's program in architectural acoustics. He also has taught acoustics at the Juilliard School of Music (New York City) and City University of New York, Harvard, and Yale universities. Among his many awards are the Year 2000 Honor for Collaborative Achievement Award from the American Institute of Architects and the Ellis Island Medal of Honor.

Jaffe was formally inducted into the Rensselaer Alumni Hall of Fame during a ceremony on campus Sept.19. Other 2003 inductees are: Howard P. Isermann, Class of 1942, sunscreen developer and Rensselaer trustee; Robert Resnick, world-famous physics educator; Myles N. Brand, Class of 1964, NCAA president and leader in higher education; and Lois Graham, Class of 1946, leader in engineering education. Inducted posthumously this year were astronaut John L. Swigert Jr., Class of 1965; engineer and inventor Walter Irving, Class of 1896; and geologist Douglass Houghton Class of 1829.

About the Rensselaer Alumni Hall of Fame
In 1995, the Rensselaer Alumni Association established its Alumni Hall of Fame to preserve and celebrate the long and exceptional heritage of Rensselaer's distinguished graduates. This year's inductees to the Alumni Hall of Fame bring the total number of members to 49. Since its founding in 1824, Rensselaer has graduated alumni whose contributions to society - from 19th century railroad and bridge builders to today's information technology entrepreneurs - have changed the world. For more information, visit the Hall of Fame at http://www.rpi.edu/about/hof/.

Contact: Jodi Ackerman
Phone: (518) 276-6531
E-mail: N/A