Obituary for Kenneth L. Carr at Kent & Pelczar Funeral Home & Crematory (2024)

DURHAM, NH – Kenneth L. Carr, an internationally recognized microwave pioneer whodeveloped a switch for a U.S. spy plane to photograph Soviet missile sites during the CubanMissile Crisis and convinced the FDA that microwaves could be safely used in medicine, died onFebruary 16 in Durham, following a stroke. He was 92.

The son of Doris (Libbey) and Lorenzo Carr, Ken was born on Feb. 15, 1932, and grewup in Cambridge, Mass., with his older brother, Curtis, and younger sister, Doris Shirley. Aftergraduating from Rindge Technical School in 1949, he received a B.S. in Electrical Engineeringfrom Tufts University in 1953. During the Korean War, Ken enlisted in the United States ArmyReserve, teaching classes at the South Boston Army Base and at the Schuylkill Arsenal inPhiladelphia, where he developed radar systems for Philco’s Corporate Government andIndustrial Division, helping land fighter planes on aircraft carriers. After receiving Philco’sOutstanding Engineer Award, Ken moved to Bedford, Mass., briefly joining his brother atSylvania’s Electric Products Division in Waltham, developing a radar system for the B-1bomber.

In 1956 Ken co-founded a Cambridge ferrite division for Airtron, developing microwavecomponents for the U.S. military. However, while walking to work, he was struck by a car,crushing his legs. After three months in the hospital, Ken overcame his injuries withcharacteristic determination and the support of his former high-school sweetheart, Nancy EllenBerthold, whom he married on April 7, 1958. Soon after, Ken adopted Nancy’s daughter,Randee, and son, Michael, from her first marriage.

That same year, Ken and two partners formed Ferrotec Inc. in Newton, developing ferritecomponents for commercial, military and space systems, including for the first long-range anti-aircraft missile system, the Bomarc. In the fall of 1962, Westinghouse contracted Ferrotec todevelop a ferrite switch for a top-secret military spy program. Working round-the-clock, Ken andhis team completed the switch in eight days, enabling a high-altitude spy plane to take high-resolution photographs of nuclear missile sites in Cuba, instigating the thirteen-day CubanMissile Crisis.

In 1970 Ferrotec merged with Microwave Associates to form M/A-Com, a Burlingtonmicrowave and communications components company. As group vice president and technicaldirector, Ken established and oversaw the Advanced Program and Technology Center, whichworked with Hughes Aircraft to develop seeker heads for fire-and-forget missiles and fire-control systems used by F-14, F-15, and F-18 fighter planes. Ken supervised numerous M/A-Com facilities, including Microwave Design and Manufacturing in southern California andMicrowave Associates Lutton in Lutton, England. He also consulted for NASA, helping track thereentry of space capsules during Project Mercury and measuring the health of Soviet crops withradiometric sensing. Using this same technology, Ken and his team collaborated with the

Medical Physics Department of the Eastern Virginia Medical School to develop a radiometer forthe early detection of breast cancer.

In 1985 Ken founded Microwave Medical Systems (MMS) (which became MeridianMedical Systems), developing microwave medical products. Credited with convincing the FDAand the American Association of Blood Banks that microwaves could be safely used to heatblood and tissue, Ken designed many life-saving technologies, including a blood warmer to treatinjured soldiers on the battlefield, a microwave sterilizer for dialysis machines, a non-invasivebrain-temperature monitor and a radar system small enough to fit on the head of a catheter forheart ablation surgery. Granted 56 U.S. patents, Ken received numerous awards and recognitionsfor his work, including an honorary Doctorate of Engineering from Wentworth Institute ofTechnology in 1992 and the IEEE’s 2022 MTT-S Microwave Pioneer Award.

Ken hoped that his latest patent, a viral inactivation system to destroy blood-borneviruses in the bloodstream, would cure some of the world’s deadliest diseases, including HIV,Ebola and hepatitis. Always one to set goals and overcome obstacles, Ken formed a consultinggroup, headed by MMS, to support companies wishing to develop this patent. “We are basicallya team of old guys with great attitudes,” he said. Over his seven-decade career, Ken worked withmany devoted colleagues, including some who remained with him for nearly 50 years. Ken was aDistinguished Lecturer for the IEEE, an expert witness for Congress, a consultant for the UnitedNations, a skilled woodworker, builder, skier, fast-pitch softball player, hockey player and adevoted father, friend and colleague who collaborated with, served and lectured at many Boston-area hospitals and universities – which he recounted in his autobiography, One Long Road: FromMissiles to Medicine.

In addition to Bedford, Ken lived in Harvard, Mass., playing and teaching hockey at theAssabet Skating Rink in Acton-Boxboro until just before turning 70, when he moved toWoolwich, Maine. To be near Boston and continue his work, he moved to Durham just last year.

Ken also enjoyed spending time at the Jolly Roger Village, his family’s campground on ProvinceLake in Parsonsfield, Maine; and at Sea Broom, a summer house he built on the Cape in NorthEastham.

Ken was predeceased by his parents, Lorenzo Bruce and Doris Iola Carr; his brother,Curtis Eugene Carr; and his younger sister, Doris Shirley (Carr) Clapp. He was also predeceased.

by Nancy, their daughter Kirsten, and son, Michael. His second wife, Mikelle (Muir) Carr, fromwhom he was divorced, died in 2023. Ken is survived by his daughter, Randee Brodeur; sonsChristopher and Jeffrey Carr; their spouses; four grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews,including Lawnie (Carr) Roberge, with whom he was close. Ken leaves behind many colleaguesand friends, including Iryna and Sergey Salata; their daughter, Yuliya, who Ken and Mikellehosted as a high-school exchange student from Ukraine, her husband, Matthew Borowski, andtheir three children; and the Salata’s son, Ivan, who were like family. A true friend andinspiration to all who knew him, Ken will be dearly missed.

A graveside service will be held at the Shawsheen cemetery in Bedford on March 1st at 1 p.m., followed by a celebration of Ken’s life to be held at a later date in Bath, Maine. In lieu of flowers,donations may be made to your favorite charity.

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