The Legacy of Maria Fidecaro

On September 17, two warm and gentle eyes closed forever—those of Maria Fidecaro, an Italian researcher who played a significant role in the history of CERN. Her bright and inquisitive spirit will be sorely missed.

Maria Cervasi completed her physics education at "Sapienza" in Rome during the early 1950s, where she studied under Carlo Bernardini. Following her graduation, she served as an assistant in the same department at the esteemed physics institute led by Enrico Fermi and Edoardo Amaldi. It was during her work, particularly in experiments on the Matterhorn to analyze cosmic rays, that she met her future husband, Giuseppe Fidecaro.

In 1954, both Maria and Giuseppe relocated to the University of Liverpool to further their studies on the decay of unstable particles. Giuseppe received funding from the newly established CERN, while Maria was granted support from the International Federation of University Women (now known as Graduate Women International). A charming photograph from 1955 captures her alongside colleagues Alec Merrison (later knighted) and Alan Wetherell at the Nuclear Physics Research Laboratory in Liverpool.

Maria and Giuseppe married in 1955, and she adopted the name Maria Fidecaro. They continued their research in Liverpool until the summer of 1956 when they moved to Geneva to join CERN's inaugural team of scientists. At that time, CERN was still under construction, with many facilities operating out of temporary structures, as Maria often recalled during interviews.

Maria and Giuseppe contributed to the design and execution of CERN's earliest experiments. In a 2014 interview, Giuseppe noted how much smaller the experiments were compared to today’s standards, with only a handful of scientists involved. They were among the pioneers who shaped the lab's legacy.

The research group that Maria initially joined at CERN was quite small, comprising just three individuals. They worked on the innovative "Synchro-Cyclotron," and together they developed a method for generating "polarized" proton beams, aligning the protons' spins in a uniform direction. Throughout her illustrious career, Maria participated in numerous significant experiments at CERN, including the Proton-Synchrotron (PS) and the Super-Proton-Synchrotron (SPS), as well as CPLEAR, which focused on studying matter-antimatter differences.

I first encountered Maria and Giuseppe Fidecaro in 2003, during my initial visit to CERN as a student preparing my dissertation. Although I didn't have the opportunity to collaborate with them directly, our paths frequently crossed in the hallways of CERN, on public transport, or at the Italian church services in Geneva. Each interaction was marked by their warm and cheerful greetings, which brightened my day.

Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted life at CERN, and I lost touch with them for a while. However, about a year ago, I had the pleasure of reuniting with them during a celebratory event at CERN. I offered them a ride home, and during our delightful conversation, Maria shared stories from her childhood in Monteverde, a neighborhood in Rome, recounting her family's experiences in the 1940s and 1950s.

Maria's enthusiasm and kindness resonated with the thousands of visitors who come to CERN annually. Both Maria and Giuseppe feature prominently in one of CERN's educational films, showcasing the Synchro-Cyclotron, the very accelerator that welcomed them to Geneva.

For many who knew them, the mention of Maria Fidecaro inevitably brings Giuseppe to mind. Those of us who crossed paths with them in their retirement years often saw them together. Although Maria retired in 1995, both she and Giuseppe continued to frequent CERN daily, remaining engaged in ongoing research and developments. Their consistent presence and friendly smiles added to the welcoming atmosphere of the lab.

During the funeral ceremony, Ugo Amaldi—son of physicist Edoardo Amaldi and a close friend of Maria—shared a poignant definition that encapsulated her character. He recounted how Maria, a few years his senior, would patiently instruct him and his peers in the lab, demonstrating her "smiling patience."

At this time of sorrow, my thoughts are with Giuseppe, their children, grandchildren, and extended family; I extend my heartfelt condolences. Maria's kind and cheerful eyes will forever be etched in my memory—a rare gift that brought joy to all who encountered them.

Rest in peace, Maria.

• Riccardo

Written by:

Hi, I am Dr. Riccardo Maria BIANCHI, a particle physicist at CERN, the international physics laboratory located in Geneva, Switzerland. For over 15 years, I have been involved in the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider, the world’s largest particle accelerator. Here, I share insights about CERN, the latest discoveries in physics, innovative research, exciting experiments, and the history of Physics and Science, all conveyed in simple terms.

Nice to meet you!