Inventor, veteran, father of Harvard man
Hugh Stoddart. (Courtesy photo)
Hugh Franklin Stoddart of Groton died Aug. 24, 2017, at the age of 90.
Hugh was born on May 17, 1927, in Portland, Oregon, to Hugh A. and Elsie (Long) Stoddart. He leaves a very loving family: Marion Stoddart, his wife of 65 years; their three children, Heather (Barros) Stoddart of Princeton, New Jersey, Hugh A. Stoddart of Harvard, and Thomas B. Stoddart of Nantucket; five grandchildren; and two sisters, Donna (Stoddart) Seeman of Brookings, Oregon, and Jean (Stoddart) Kelley of Milton-Freewater, Oregon.
Hugh was a prolific inventor. He studied at Caltech and MIT and went on to become an accomplished entrepreneur. He was the co-founder of four companies including Senscio Systems of Boxborough. Hugh was the author of more than 40 patents and numerous journal articles. Many of his inventions were nuclear medical devices. He worked on the first PET scanner and invented a high-resolution nuclear brain-function imager.
Hugh served his country. He was a World War II veteran who trained for the invasion of Japan and then served as an X-ray technician in a MASH unit in Taejon, Korea. Unbeknownst to his family at the time, Hugh consulted for the CIA in the field during the Cold War, including the design, construction, and operation of a “radiation telescope” to identify fishing boats carrying nuclear weapons into Cuba.
Hugh cared about his community. After moving to Groton in 1962, he served on the Planning Board, Earth Removal Committee, and Conservation Trust. He also raised money for the Groton Conservation Commission to purchase the Knops Pond swimming, recreation, and conservation area.
Hugh pursued many interests. His passions included photography, painting, bicycling, and piloting his own small plane.
In his final years, he set upon writing a semi-autobiographical thriller inspired by his personal experiences. His final words said, “Hugh Franklin Stoddart leaves behind a loving family.”
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Nov. 25, from 2 to 4 p.m. at Groton School in the Webb Marshall Room.
