Dr. Charles “Chuck” Kimball Crawford
Dr. Charles “Chuck” Kimball Crawford, a brilliant physicist, former Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor, entrepreneur, pilot, and dedicated philanthropist, passed away on May 9, 2026, in Peterborough, New Hampshire. Born on July 9, 1937, in New Jersey, Chuck was a man of uncompromising principles and profound generosity whose life’s work was defined by his dedication to Kimball Physics, Inc.
His parents, Bertha (Batchelder) and Walter, and his brother David predeceased him. He is survived by his sister, Diane. He is also survived by numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nephews, nieces, great-nephews, and great-nieces in the Batchelder, Tallarico, and Crawford branches of his extended family. He is also survived by his cherished co-workers and colleagues at Kimball Physics, all of whom he was so proud.
A 1962 alumnus of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.I.T.) who also spent time at Los Alamos, Chuck served as an electrical engineering and physics professor at M.I.T. in the 1960s. During his tenure, he began developing specialized tools known as “EV parts,” which he likened to “erector sets” or “Legos” for physics research, to assist his doctoral students with their work. Chuck chose to leave his full professorship at MIT, believing he could do more good by making his scientific products available to a wider audience.
This vision led to the founding of Kimball Physics, Inc. (KPI) over 50 years ago. Chuck eventually moved the business to a barn at the Kimball Heights Farm in Wilton, situated on property his family had owned since 1801. In the 1970s, he purchased the family farm from his Aunt Ruth, which was then an apple orchard and blueberry patch, and expanded the surrounding land into a 500-acre wooded hilltop research and manufacturing campus.
Under his guiding mission, “To advance humankind by doing good physics,” Chuck became a pioneer in the field of electron physics and held numerous patents. Organizations like NASA utilized his company’s groundbreaking technology, contributing to missions on the Space Shuttle and simulating solar winds to test satellite materials. He even designed a custom electron gun prop for the 1984 film The Terminator. His novel electron emitters are an enabling technology for semiconductor manufacturing, allowing smaller and smaller integrated circuits to be developed for our most powerful smartphones.
Chuck was equally known for his strong convictions regarding public health. In the early 1990s, he implemented a pioneering zero-tolerance tobacco policy at Kimball Physics. This policy went beyond banning smoking on campus; it prohibited “tobacco residuals,” meaning employees were not allowed to carry even the scent of smoke on their breath or clothing.
Outside of his professional life, Chuck was an avid aviator who held commercial pilot and instructor licenses for multiple aircraft, owned several planes, and enjoyed training students who wanted to learn to fly. As a young man, he took great pride in his Mercedes-Benz 300SL convertible.
His commitment to his community was reflected in his extensive local philanthropy. In 2014, he personally championed the restoration of “The Dummy,” a historic 1920s traffic signal in the center of Wilton. That same year, he purchased the historic 1850 Wilton Falls Building to protect downtown Wilton from incompatible development. He used the space to provide rent-free homes for the Open Cupboard Food Pantry, the Second Congregational Church’s thrift shop (Second Glances), and the Wilton Main Street Association. In 2023, he further demonstrated his devotion to the town by offering the entire building as a gift to the Town of Wilton. A dedicated conservationist, Chuck consistently supported the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests and numerous local causes across Wilton, Peterborough, and Greenville.
At the time of his passing, he was residing in the assisted living wing at Summerhill in Peterborough. His family is grateful for the excellent care he received there. Chuck Crawford leaves a remarkable legacy of scientific excellence and a profound dedication to his community.
Chuck will be laid to rest in his family plot in the South Yard Cemetery at the Unitarian Congregational Society Cemetery in Wilton, NH. An informal graveside burial service will be held on September 12, 2026, at 3 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Chuck’s name to the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests. To share a memory, or to leave the family a message of condolence, please visit Chuck’s tribute page at www.jellisonfuneralhome.com