Kenneth Crandall

Kenneth Roy Crandall

July 25, 1934–October 13, 2024

Kenneth (“Ken”) Roy Crandall, of Santa Fe, New Mexico, died on October 13, 2024. He was 90 years old. Ken was born and raised in Monroe City, Missouri, the youngest of three children. After graduating with a BS from the Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla, Missouri, and a brief stint of living in California, he went to Los Alamos, New Mexico, where he began working for Los Alamos National Laboratories. When asked throughout his career whether he had a PhD, Ken would quip, “In fact, I have two, and you can find them in the barn. They are otherwise known as posthole diggers.”

Ken met his wife, Joy Crandall (Murray), in Los Alamos in 1961, and they adored one another for more than 64 years. There they raised a family with three children and various iterations of cats, dogs, goats, horses, chickens, and even a pig. Since his retirement from the Lab in the mid-1980s, Ken and Joy lived and worked in several places in the United States, including San Ramon, California; Corrales, New Mexico; Edgewood, New Mexico; Maui, Hawaii; Coeur d'Alene, Idaho; and Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Ken lived with gusto and humor. He was a brilliant physicist and played piano by ear. He loved sports and games of all types. Playing tennis was a lifelong passion, but he also loved playing and coaching baseball, teaching Little Leaguers how to throw a mean curveball. Backyard games of badminton and boules entertained many a guest. He also enjoyed raucous rounds of billiards and ping pong. Ken loved reading, solving puzzles of all kinds, listening to music, traveling, socializing, adventuring with Joy, and playing with his kids, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. His work on particle acceleration was known worldwide, and he had friends and colleagues across the globe.

Kenneth is survived by his wife, Joy; son, Charles Crandall (m. Margot); daughters Chris Pennington (m. Carlton) and Amy Phillips (m. Bruce); grandchildren Aaron, Samantha, Myles, Nicholas, and Devin; and seven great-grandchildren.