It saddens us to acknowledge the death of nuclear and solid-state physics expert, Professor
Charles Waddell, who died of cancer at the age of 75 on April 21, 1998, at his home in
Torrance, California.
"Charlie was a kind and giving friend and will be missed by all who knew him," says retired
USC Physics Professor, Robert Cole.
After serving in the U.S. Navy in World War II, Professor Waddell completed his B.A and
Ph.D. at University of California, Berkeley. In 1958, he joined the USC Physics faculty
leading an experimental program using USC's 30 MeV proton linear accelerator. He was
appointed deputy chief investigator of the University's Nuclear Physics Laboratory in 1965.
In 1970, USC's linear accelerator was phased out, yet Professor Waddell continued his
research at UCLA and, later, with the 800 MeV linear accelerator at Los Alamos Scientific
Laboratory.
From 1972 until his retirement, he spent his summers conducting materials science research at
the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C. In 1990, he was awarded emeritus
status.
Professor Waddell was also a committed teacher. Professor Cole elaborates by saying,
"Charlie was an inspiring and dynamic lecturer and was loved by his students. His office was
always open to everyone. When students came to him for help, he always had time for them."
Charles Waddell is survived by his wife, Marjorie, four sons, two daughters, and nine
grandchildren. Services were held on April 25, 1998.
Department of Physics & Astronomy / USC Physics & Astronomy Newsletters /