Doc (Harold Irving) Ewen of
South Deerfield passed away on October 8, 2015 at the age of 93. Doc was the
beloved husband for 58 years of Mary Ann Ewen (née Whitney), who passed away on September 26, 2014. Doc and Mary
Ann had eight children who loved them dearly (see below). Doc did his
undergraduate studies at Amherst College in mathematics and astronomy and graduate
studies at Harvard
University in physics.
While at Harvard and working with Ed Purcell, Doc detected interstellar
hydrogen (the 21 centimeter line), thereby launching the field of radio
astronomy. Working in the Cyclotron Lab at Harvard, his efforts led to the
development of the first external beam, an achievement that was ultimately
adapted for the treatment of brain tumors. Between studies at Amherst and Harvard, Doc served as Second Lieutenant in the Navy during World
War II with engagements in the European and Pacific theatres. As part of his early efforts during the war, Doc taught
celestial navigation for a pilot training program at Amherst College.
After graduate school, Doc served as co-director of the Harvard Radio Astronomy
Program, as well as CEO of Ewen Knight and Ewen Dae Corporations. Doc was President of EK Associates and President and Technical Operations Director of Special Projects LLC
at the time of his death. Amongst Doc’s honors, he was a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and a
recipient of the IEEE Morris E.
Leeds Award. Doc was an avid Red Sox fan, a
passion that extended to building a ball field in the back yard on which he
often played ball with his children. Doc is survived by his children:
Donald Arthur Ewen and his wife Cara Ewen, Bruce Irving Ewen, Mark Edward Ewen
and his wife Katherine McShea Ewen, Deborah Ann Wesley Pitochelli and her
husband Ernie Pitochelli, David Kelvin Ewen and his wife Maria Ewen, Daniel
Scott Ewen and his wife Jean Ewen, and Rebecca Diane Ewen. Doc was the beloved
grandfather of ten grandchildren: Sean Ewen, Kaitlin Ewen, Drea Ewen, Kimberlin
Ewen, Charles Wesley, Jonathan Wesley, Andrew Wesley, Nathan Ewen, Audrey Ewen,
and Andrew Ewen. Doc was predeceased by his son James Whitney Ewen.
Expressions of Sympathy are available at:
www.wrisleyfuneralhome.com
