Astrophysicist, father of Harvard resident
Chuck Whitney. (Courtesy photo)
Charles “Chuck” Allen Whitney of Weston, an astrophysicist and most recently a resident of Lasell Village, Newton, a beloved father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, passed away at 88 on May 22, 2017, surrounded by family. He was born in Milwaukee on Jan. 31, 1929, the son of Charles Smith Whitney and Gertrude Schuyler Whitney.
Intensely interested in astronomy as a youth, he worked as an observatory telescope assistant during the summer of 1946. This experience cemented his decision to become an astronomer. He majored in physics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
In his senior year of college, Chuck married Jane Ann Hall of Utica, New York, and during the next decade, the couple had five children. He was awarded his Ph.D. from the Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences in 1955. He spent occasional evenings observing at the Oak Ridge Observatory on Pinnacle Road in Harvard, and he organized the installation of a telescope there for use by graduate students. He often shared his evenings in Harvard with friend and colleague Mac McCrosky of Old Littleton Road.
Whitney joined the staff of the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory in 1956. David Latham of Harvard was a graduate student of Whitney’s and was hired by him at the Center for Astrophysics in 1961. Promoted to full professor of astronomy at Harvard in 1968, Chuck continued his career teaching, writing, consulting for the Children’s Television Workshop, and improving science education at all levels. In 1989 he was named professor emeritus of astronomy at Harvard.
Chuck had lifelong passions for opera, the outdoors, standard poodles, and trout fishing. In 1967 he and Jane purchased a traditional Adirondack camp in Long Lake, New York, providing decades of wilderness experience. In his 70s, Whitney further developed his love of drawing and painting, and he continued to study and practice art while living at Lasell Village from 2015 until his death.
After Jane’s passing in 1993, Whitney married Elizabeth “Betty” Pyle. Chuck and Betty lived in Weston for 19 years. In addition to his wives and parents, Whitney was predeceased by his brother, James Schuyler Whitney, and his sister, Lillian Randolph Whitney. He is survived by his children: Ann and her husband, Rick Johnson, of Harvard; David and his wife, Kristin Whitney, of Gloucester; Tom and his wife, Patty Whitney, of Hinesburg, Vermont; Peter and his wife, Mindi Whitney, of Lexington; and Andy and his wife, Anne Corbett, of Mercer Island, Washington. He is also survived by 11 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; his brother’s son and daughter, Garret and Meredith; his sister-in-law, Mary Hall Gambee; his niece, Susan Gambee Aldinger; and his nephew, Peter Gambee. He is also survived by Betty’s five children, Martha, Alison, Jenny, Molly, and Doug, and her 12 grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held on Monday, June 26, at noon, at the First Parish Church in Weston. Reception to follow. Contributions may be made to the Weston Wayland Interfaith Action Group or to St. Coletta of Wisconsin. A private burial will be held in the Adirondack Park.
