Hays Penfield
The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution announces with great sorrow the death of volunteer Hays Penfield on September 2. He was 87.
Hays was born in Philadelphia, PA, on October 26, 1926. He was the son of Helen Hays Penfield and Walker Penfield. Hays graduated from Swarthmore (PA) High School in 1944 where he played lacrosse and track. After high school, he served in the US Navy during World War II and was a radar technician on the USS Albany. After the war, Hays attended Williams College and then went on to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology where he earned a masters degree in electrical engineering.
Hays and Carol were married in 1950 and moved to Concord, Mass., in 1952. He worked for technology companies during the 1950s and 1960s and then for the Harvard – Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics at Harvard University for the balance of his career where he pioneered the use of computers for radio astronomy.
He was active in the community, and was the past president of the Concord Lions Club, Concord Little League Baseball, and the Concord Ski Club. After he and Carol retired to West Falmouth in 1984, Hays spent many years volunteering in the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution’s Information Office, Exhibit Center, and Archives. Throughout his years, Hays enjoyed many recreational activities including camping, tennis, sailing, skiing, and golf.
Hays was the devoted husband of Carol Drew Penfield and loving brother of Jane Penfield of Media, PA. Hays was pre-deceased by his daughter Ann Carol (Caren) Penfield, and leaves his other four children and their spouses, David and Jeannette Penfield of Hudson, NH, Edward (Ted) and Joanne Penfield of Concord, Mass., Robert and Janine Penfield of Concord, Mass, and Charles Penfield and Noelle Wehle of Hopkinton, Mass., along with eleven grandchildren and six great grandchildren, all of whom he loved dearly.
Family and friends are invited to Carol and Hays life celebration on Saturday, September 20, 2:00 p.m., at Trinity Episcopal Church, 81 Elm Street, Concord, Mass. Interment is private. Concords town flag will fly at half-staff on Saturday, September 20 in honor of Mr. Penfield’s service to his country during WWII with the United States Navy. Gifts in his memory can be made to the Minute Man ARC, 130 C Baker Ave Extension, Concord, Mass., 01742 or the West Falmouth Library, 575 W Falmouth Hwy, West Falmouth, Mass., 02574.
Information for the obituary is from the Concord Funeral Home.