Gordon F. Hull Jr., of Rockport, Mass., formerly of Hanover, N.H., died peacefully on July 17 at the age of 94.
Beloved husband of the late Mona C. Hull, to whom he was married 65 years; father of Gordon F. Hull III and wife Barbara of Kenilworth, Ill., Jerusha Hull McCormack of Dublin, Ireland, Jonathan C. Hull and wife Gretchen of Newcastle, David B. Hull and wife Sandra of Claremont, Cal., and Berney Elizabeth Graham and husband Richard of North Andover, Mass. He leaves ten grandchildren.
Dr. Hull graduated from Dartmouth College with a B.S. in Physics in 1933, received his masters in 1934 and his PhD in Physics from Yale University in 1937. During his high school years Dr. Hull studied at the Universities of Gottingen and Strasbourg.
Dr. Hull began his career at the Bell Telephone Laboratories in 1937. There he headed various research groups, the last being in microwave antennas and microwave radar systems. In 1944, he was appointed Professor of Physics at Dartmouth College. As part of his responsibilities, in addition to his teaching and research, he directed research for the Office of Naval Research. During this affiliation he worked as a Scientific Attaché at the American Embassy. On leave from Dartmouth, he was stationed in London, England, Washington, D.C. and Bern, Switzerland. In the last assignment he acted for the Department of State as the scientific liaison between European and U.S. physicists.
In 1953, Dr. Hull became a consultant to Saunders Associates in Nashua, N.H., and in 1954 to 1958 he worked with MIT Lincoln Labs as a consultant. There he developed radar systems and evaluated them using radio astronomy techniques.
From 1958 to 1963, Dr. Hull was head of the Physics Systems Engineering for Sylvania Systems Engineering Laboratory. In 1963, he joined Baird-Atomic as Director of Research, with a particular focus on optical masers.
In 1965 and for the next several years, Dr. Hull was a scientific consultant for highly specialized companies, working in optics and lasers.
In 1970, Dr. Hull and his wife made a major life change, making Rockport, Mass. their permanent home after years of being summer residents. There they bought the Hull House, a prominent federalist home on Main Street. They operated the home as a guesthouse and apartment house for many years.
Dr. Hull was a member of many scientific organizations, both in the U.S. and abroad. He was a long-term member of the Sandy Bay Yacht Club, and an enthusiastic sailor. He was a patron and long time member of the Rockport Art Association buying many original pastel works and oil paintings over the years. He involved himself in local government in Rockport, Mass. with great enthusiasm.
Memorial service 1 p.m., Sat., July 29 at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Hanover, N.H., followed by internment in the family plot at Pine Knoll Cemetery; a reception will follow.
A memorial will be held in Rockport, Mass. at a later date, yet to be determined. Relatives and friends are cordially invited.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be given in Dr. Hull’s name to the Rockport Art Association, 12 Main St., Rockport, MA 01966.
Funeral arrangements are by Burgess & Mackey Funeral Home, 201 Main St., Rockport, Mass.
