Charles "Bert" Herbert Still

Dr. Charles Herbert “Bert” Still ASC Program Deputy Director Dr. Charles Herbert “Bert” Still, Ph.D., 54, went to his heavenly reward on September 24, 2018. Bert would have been 55 on September 26. Dr. Bert Still was born in Boston, MA, to Dr. Charles N. Still, M.D., and the late Mrs. Dorothy V. Still, on September 26, 1963. He grew up in Columbia, SC, attending Heathwood Hall Episcopal School and Hammond Academy, where he was Salutatorian of the Class of 1981. A lifelong Gamecock, Dr. Bert Still earned his B.S. in Computer Science & Mathematics with Honors from South Carolina College (1984) and doctorate in Mathematics (Ph.D., 1990) at the University of South Carolina, where he taught math classes and worked at Computer Services Division as a graduate student. He was a member of Delta Upsilon fraternity. Upon completion of his doctoral degree, he took a Postdoctoral Fellow in Applied Mathematics 1990-1993 at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA, which lead him to make a permanent move to the west coast. Dr. Bert Still, Ph.D., worked as a computational physicist at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) for more than 20 years. As Deputy Director in Applications Development, he was the Leader of Application Strategy for Livermore Computing, responsible for developing Livermore Computing’s strategy for ensuring that LLNL applications can effectively use sited/planned LLNL high-performance computing capabilities as well as those at other NNSA sites. Previously at LLNL, Dr. Still was the Advanced Simulation and Computing (ASC) Codes Group Leader, and the Deputy Project Leader for Advanced Architecture Software Development. Dr. Still’s areas of expertise include algorithms, parallel computing, computing in mathematics, applied mathematics, natural science, engineering and medicine, computational physics, plasma physics, and modeling and simulation. In addition to having a gifted mind for the sciences, technology, engineering and mathematics, Dr. Still was a talented guitar player and golfer, sports car aficionado, member of the Porsche Club, avid Gamecock sports enthusiast, voracious science fiction reader and huge J.R.R. Tolkien fan. Music was a very meaningful part of his well-balanced life. He sang in choirs at school and church as a young boy. He enjoyed attending rock concerts in college and saw many great bands in the 1980’s -90’s. Likewise, he played lead guitar and sang with his bandmates, playing gigs at local venues in SC and CA. As a woodworking hobbyist, he collected sophisticated and simple tools, equipping his workshop with a remarkable dust collection system he engineered so he could make beautiful furniture and breathe safely. He traveled extensively, visiting more than a dozen states in the U.S., including Hawaii, as well as taking international trips to Canada, England, and Israel. He enjoyed meeting people, sharing ideas, food, music interests and math theorems. His sense of humor and bright outlook inspired many, and he was a loving and generous man, a great guy who was simply a delight to be around. His Christian faith sustained him throughout his life. Dr. Still became a member of First Baptist Church, Columbia, as a youth following a profession of faith and believer’s baptism. He attended Cornerstone Fellowship in Livermore, CA. Diagnosed with cystic fibrosis as an infant, he did not let the disease cast a shadow of fear over him, but lived his life fully. Being born in Boston, MA, Bert was blessed to have Dr. Harry Shwachman, an authority on cystic fibrosis, Children’s Hospital of Boston, as his personal physician. The family made annual visits to Boston for Bert’s checkups until Dr. Shwachman’s retirement, and he continued to thrive under the care of Dr. Charles James, founder of Sandhills Pediatrics in Columbia, SC. As a youth, he played basketball and baseball on local teams in Columbia, and later excelled on the golf team in high school at Hammond. He found that regular physical activity was beneficial to his health, and he just really enjoyed it, too. Dr. Still is survived by his wife of 18 years, Kimberley Ann Still, his step-son, Brandon M. Dybdal, and step-daughter, Chelsea M. Dybdal, and step-grandsons, Antonio Moran and Maddox Moran, all of Pleasanton, CA, as well as his brother-in-law, David Zulaica of Placerville, CA. He is also survived by his father, Dr. Charles N. Still, M.D., of Lexington, SC; his brother, Dr. Carl N. Still, Ph.D. (Dr. Sarah M. Powrie, Ph.D.) of Saskatoon, SK, Canada; and his sister, Mrs. Sara S. “Sallee” Weston (Mark A. Weston) and nieces, Madelyn R. Weston, Rebecca L. Weston, and Sara M. Weston, of Columbia, SC, and Haley Zulaica of CA. Likewise, he is survived by his aunt, Ms. Nellie Claire S. Brennan; and his uncle, John W. Still (Pamela H. Still) all of Greenwood, SC; and first cousins, John W. Still, Jr. (Elizabeth L. Still) of Greenwood, SC; Hannah S. Terpack (Shawn B. Terpack) of Greer, SC; Paige B. Gann, and Kelley C. Brennan, both of Greenwood, SC. He is predeceased by his infant brother, Charles N. “Neal” Still, Jr., and his mother, Dorothy V. Still. The service for Dr. Still will be held at 3:00 pm Friday, September 28th at the chapel of Thompson Funeral Home at Greenlawn Memorial Park, 845 Leesburg Rd, Columbia, with The Rev. Richard Humphries officiating. Visitation will precede the service from 2:00 – 3:00 pm. Dr. Still will be interred at Greenlawn Mausoleum. The family wishes to thank the medical team and staff at Kaiser Permanente Hospital, Oakland, California, for their excellent care. All of his caregivers and those who have given him love and support throughout his life are cherished by the family. In lieu of flowers, memorials made by made to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. www.cff.org.