Obituaries

Robert Turner

Died May 8, 2014

 

  Robert Turner, 89, of Lake Leelanau passed away on Thursday, May 8, 2014 at Munson Medical Center.

Robert was born on Jan. 23, 1925 in Boston, the son of Charles and Mary (Leonard) Turner. 

  Robert’s life changed when his sixth grade teacher recommended him for the prestigious Boys Latin School.  He used to walk five miles each way to school to save a nickel on the subway.  After high school, as WWII began, Robert worked in the Boston Navy yard to make enough money for his first semester’s tuition at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) where he studied electrical engineering.

  Robert joined the Navy V-12 program as a sophomore in 1943 and thereafter the Navy paid for his education.  He graduated with a BS from MIT in 1945.  Following his graduation from MIT, Robert attended Cornell University for officer’s training school where he became an ensign just as World War Two came to an end.  One of Robert’s great disappointments was to have missed the opportunity to serve his country on active duty.  He was transferred to a naval base at Long Beach Naval Station outside of Los Angeles.  A highlight was Robert’s commendation for the “efficient and courteous manner” in which he served as shore patrol for a ship’s company party at the Lakewood Country Club. 

  Robert was discharged in 1946 and then entered Harvard’s electrical engineering program.  Upon receiving his masters from Harvard in 1948 he began his job at Sperry Gyroscope in New York where he worked on radar design.  Robert considered his time at Sperry to have been the “best education of his life.” Robert got around New York on his 1929 Harley Davidson until the generator blew up in a drag race.  In 1954 Robert worked for the US Naval Operations Evaluation Group (OEG) stationed in Japan and the Philippines where he hiked on Mount Fuji and tested his radars on aircraft carriers. Robert met his first wife Cynthia Gale at the Pentagon.  They married in 1956 and settled in Silver Spring, Maryland where they had three children and the first of a series of large dogs.  Robert supported his wife’s birding interests, building custom traps, banding tools, cages and netting for her endeavors. 

In 1955 Robert joined Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory as a senior engineer working on guided missile systems for the US Navy. While at APL, Robert met his beloved wife Katharine through Parents Without Partners.  They were married in 1974.  Robert and Katharine led their family of five children on many outdoor expeditions including biking, camping, and orienteering trips.

  The majority of Robert’s career was focused on the development of lasers.  He received several patents for his work.  These lasers had military, medical and commercial applications, including the use of lasers to measure bubble size in unopened bottles of beer.  Robert received a case of Budweiser for this work.  Robert was involved in radar experimentation in the fjords of Norway to detect underwater submarines.  The last few years of his career at APL were reinvigorated by his inclusion in the Star Wars program; he traveled over 100,000 miles working on classified projects. 

  Upon retiring from APL Robert and his wife moved to Lake Leelanau, Michigan where they renovated and expanded the family compound.  He built a sugar shack for his wife’s maple syrup project, and together they enjoyed the four seasons of Leelanau county through canoeing, biking, cross country skiing, and walking his good dogs Rufus and Webber.

  He will be fondly remembered for his quick wit, long memory, and love of a good martini.

  In addition to his wife Katharine, Robert is survived by his children, Charles Jefferson Turner and wife Doreen Meyer, Robert Willis Turner, Jennifer Gale Turner, and; two step-daughters, Claire Elizabeth Ernst and husband Al Bedecarre and Julia Anne Wolcott Marrero and husband Frank Marrero; four grandchildren, Sophie Katherine Bedecarré Ernst, Salem Wolcott Marrero, Alden Pierre Bedecarré Ernst and Ella Allegra Wolcott Marrero.

Robert was predeceased by his brother, Charles; and sister, Dorothy.

We will have a celebration of Robert’s life this summer.

  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Red Cross, 735 S Garfield Ave., Traverse City, MI 49686 and/or to the Father Fred Foundation 826 Hastings St, Traverse City, MI 49686 and/or to the Salvation Army, P.O. Box 5229, Traverse City, MI 49696.