Laurence J. Campbell

Laurence (Larry) Joseph Campbell of Los Alamos died from cancer on June 2, 2011. He was born in West Virginia on February 26, 1937. After receiving Bachelor and Masters degrees in physics from MIT he obtained a Ph.D. in physics from UC San Diego and joined the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory in 1967. At the Laboratory he worked as a theoretical physicist on projects in cryogenics and condensed matter including quantum fluids, superconductivity and some speculative areas such as anti-proton containment. He was appointed the first program manager for the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory in Los Alamos. He was a Fellow of the American Physical Society. Larry enjoyed mountaineering and participated in first ascents in the Yukon and Greenland. He was elected to the American Alpine Club in 1972. He worked with others to improve the coordination of government and volunteer search and rescue activity in New Mexico in the 1970's. His interest in photography led to his participation in the Forum on Science and Art of Santa Fe for several years, and he contributed to juried shows. Through the Rotary Club he made several trips to the Quiché region of Guatemala to promote water and health projects. Larry was a founding board member of United by Friendship, a non-profit organization dedicated to the improvement of public health, education and economic development within communities of that region. Following his retirement in 1998, Larry promoted the history of Los Alamos and worked with the local residents and the Fuller Lodge Historic District Advisory Board to change the name of 20th Street in the Historic District to Bathtub Row. As a member of the board of the Los Alamos Historical Society he negotiated the purchase of the wartime residence of J. Robert Oppenheimer for the Society and oversaw its repair. He also arranged the restoration of the Romero Cabin from the Pajarito Homesteader period. He was also a member of the board of the Historical Society of New Mexico. He recently initiated a program to publish historical essays about Los Alamos and the area. He believed that "We define our meaning by our doing and our worth by our aspirations." Larry is survived by his wife Katherine Campbell of Los Alamos; daughter Elizabeth Campbell of Boulder, Colorado; sister Connie Lunsford (Gordon) of Lillian, Alabama. At the request of the deceased there will be no memorial service and interment at Guaje Pines will be private. Rivera Family of Espanola is handling funeral arrangements. There will be an open house on August 27, 2011, from noon to 5 p.m. featuring Larrys photography.