He was one of the most highly regarded professors in Syracuse University’s long history, and also the world’s leading expert and a pioneer in the field of indoor environment and its effect on human comfort, health and productivity.

P. Ole Fanger died of an aneurism at age 72 in Crouse Hospital Monday evening, after being admitted earlier that day.

‘The fact that you’re sitting in a room comfortably, not sweating, being productive, whether it’s in your home or office: that’s Ole Fanger,’ said H. Ezzat Khalifa, director of SU Environmental Quality Systems Strategically Targeted Academic Research Center, of Fanger’s work.

Fanger, who resides in Denmark for most of the year, was in Syracuse to give a lecture Tuesday, Khalifa said.

‘He single-handedly created the field of the scientific study of environment and its effect on human performance,’ Khalifa said.

Fanger is most known for his ‘princess and the pea’ approach to the indoor environment, Khalifa said.

Instead of targeting the average or greatest number of people, Fanger wanted to discover what conditions of air temperature, air velocity, humidity, dust, chemicals, lighting and noise would satisfy even those most sensitive to their environment, Khalifa said.

‘We spend 90 percent of our time inside something: home, car, office, airplane, theater, subway tunnel,’ Khalifa said. ‘He focused on things that will affect you the most.’

Fanger’s approach was qualitatively based on perceived environment, said Jianshun Zhang, director of indoor environmental systems at SU. Zhang is planning to spend three months in Denmark next year working with Fanger’s colleagues to combine their concepts of perceived environment with his quantitative focus, which measures the variables of an indoor environment.

‘This field of research is inherently a team sport,’ said Edward Bogucz, executive director of the SU Center of Excellence. ‘These are high-level problems that require multiple people from multiple areas of expertise.’

This cross-disciplinary nature reflects the concept of University Professor because he is not associated with any one college or program, but reflects the characteristics of a university, said Interim Vice Chancellor Eric Spina. Fanger was one of only ten University Professors at SU in 136 years.

‘(University Professors) have had a profound impact on their field and have shown the ability to translate knowledge across many fields,’ Spina said.

When Fanger accepted the position of University Professor, he agreed to be at SU for at least two one-week visits each year, Bogucz said.

After visiting SU last June, Fanger was not expected to return until later this year, Bogucz said. But he initiated this visit, to share his most recent results and help SU plan to perform a similar study.

At about 11:30 Monday morning, Fanger complained of acute back pain, Khalifa said. He thought it was from spending more time in airplanes and airports because his Saturday flight was delayed in Amsterdam.

After trying unsuccessfully to find a back specialist, Khalifa brought Fanger to Crouse Hospital’s prompt care center at about 1:30 p.m. Monday, he said.

After a series of tests, including x-rays and electro-cardiograms, the doctors thought Fanger would be able to leave Crouse Hospital by dinnertime, and encouraged Khalifa to keep him company in the room while all the test results came back, he said.

At about 4 p.m., Fanger collapsed while in the hospital bed talking to him, Khalifa said.

Fanger was immediately taken to the emergency room. At that point, the details of his health were given only to Fanger’s daughter, who is an oncologist in Denmark, Khalifa said.

At 7:30 p.m. Monday, Fanger’s daughter called Khalifa and told him her father had died of an aneurysm.

Fanger was the keynote speaker at the Syracuse Symposium on Environmental and Energy Systems in 2002, received an honorary degree of science from SU in 2005 and was named University Professor last March.

In 1998, Fanger received a 10-year grant from the Danish government to establish the International Centre for Indoor Environment and Energy at the Technical University of Denmark.

The labs, facilities and program at SU were modeled after the International Centre, and Fanger considered them the best in North America, Bogucz said.

By speaking at SU in 2002, Fanger established the Center of Excellence’s credibility, Bogucz said.

‘Fanger welcomed us into the global community in this area, kind of how a parent welcomes a child,’ he said. ‘He nurtured us, he reared us.’

In his approximately 30 years in the field, Fanger received 75 scientific awards in 28 countries, including 12 honorary doctorates, 18 medals and honorary memberships in 16 professional societies.

He was a foreign associate of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering, an international member of the Royal Academy of Engineering in the U.K. and was knighted in his home country of Denmark, Khalifa said.

But those who knew and worked with Fanger said they won’t remember him just for his credentials; they’ll remember him for his contributions to the field he created almost single-handedly, and for the vigor with which he lived.

‘This guy exemplifies love of life and living well, and you’ve got to seize the day because you never know what tomorrow will bring,’ Bogucz said. ‘He’s a scholar, but he was not a nerd.’

He recalled stories about Fanger dancing with Chancellor Nancy Cantor at the commencement reception in the Carrier Dome last May.

‘(He was) a mischievous guy who enjoyed life, and was really just having a good time,’ said Spina, who was at that event. ‘He would get a twinkle in his eye.’

Fanger, a fan of fine wine and fine food, was known for carrying a wine thermometer with him at all times, Khalifa said.

If the wine was too cool for his taste, he would say it needed ‘tender, loving care,’ he said. Fanger would hold the glass in his hand for a while before taking a sip.

He was also noted for his fitness. Fanger exercised for one or two hours every day, including Monday mornings, Khalifa said.

‘He was a very fit man, full of life,’ Khalifa said. ‘That’s why it’s very shocking.’

Fanger is survived by his two daughters, Bine and Tone, Khalifa said. His wife died in April.

Jan Sundell, Fanger’s colleague at the Technical University of Denmark, will be giving a lecture at 10 a.m. Thursday in Link Hall about the International Centre’s study relating asthma and allergies to the home environment. The lecture will include a tribute to Fanger.

Published on September 20, 2006 at 12:00 pm