Remarkable Legacy of Ross Stone: Beyond Hertz's Cylindrical Reflector to Novel Remote Sensing Antennas

In one's life, there are certain individuals who serve as constant pillars of support and admiration. Ross, unquestionably, belonged to that esteemed group. His extensive knowledge across a multitude of subjects and his unwavering commitment to active engagement and selfless contributions exceeded all expectations. Within our IEEE AP-S and USNC-URSI organizations, he truly embodied the role of an encyclopedia. It is with great humility that I present this invited talk during a special session at the 2024 75th Anniversary of the IEEE AP-S in Florence, Italy, dedicated to the professional legacy of the late Ross Stone (1947–2023). My association with Ross spans nearly five decades, during which we shared numerous fruitful technical and professional exchanges on various electromagnetic topics, such as inverse scattering and remote sensing. Our initial encounter took place at the 1973 IEEE AP-S/USNC-URSI conference in Boulder, Colorado, where I first met Ross and presented my first conference paper. What remains vivid in my memory is Ross's avid interest in overseeing edited publications, bringing together exceptional contributors, and producing top-notch special issues encompassing diverse subjects. Interestingly, our paths converged through extensive participation in national and international conferences, collaborative contributions to committee meetings, and a myriad of shared experiences.