David L. Anderson (1235-4131-1113W)

David Leonard Anderson, 76, of Oberlin, Ohio, died March 8, 1996. He was born December 19, 1919, in Portland, Oregon. David attended Harvard University on a scholarship, and graduated summa cum laude in 1941 with a bachelor's degree. He also earned master's and doctoral degrees in physics at Harvard. While at college, he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. During World War II he taught electronics to servicemen. As a civilian scientist and Naval ensign, he collaborated on the Manhattan Project in Los Alamos, NM, and in the Pacific. After the war he participated in the Bikini bomb tests.

In 1948 he joined the faculty at Oberlin College, teaching nuclear theory, electronics and astronomy from 1948 to 1984; he also developed a course for non-scientists, "Poet's Physics," which inspired similar courses in other branches of science. David wrote several books during his tenure, including Discovery of the Electron and Discoveries in Physics.

David began a three-year course of independant study and examinations to prepare for ordination as an Episcopal priest in 1953. He was named priest associate of Christ Church in 1956, and served as priest in charge of the parish seven times.

David married Madeleine Mather on June 7, 1947, in Cambridge, Massachusetts. They have 3 sons and a daughter: Philip A. Anderson of Cleveland Heights, Ohio; Stephen A. Anderson of Deerfield, Massachusetts; Samuel M. Anderson of Leonia, New Jersey; and Constance Anderson Kittakis of Athens, Greece.

David surely will be missed.


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