Kenneth Lynn Hall ’49

Kenneth Lynn Hall ’49, January 23, 2015, in San Rafael, California. Lynn had a well-rounded experience at Reed. “As a science major, Reed’s liberal arts course made for the ‘good life,’” he wrote. He learned to think independently and objectively, and enjoyed evening readings of humanities assignments at the home of Prof. Ruth Graybill Collier ’32, MA ’38 [English 1933–52], and lectures by Prof. Richard Jones [history 1941–86] and Prof. Frank Hurley [chemistry 1942–51]. He recalled with pleasure dancing the Viennese Waltz in the student union and discovering Dixieland music; he played trombone in the pit orchestra for college musicals. Lynn was student body president, SU manager, a member of the student education policy committee, and he played football. He completed a BA from Reed in chemistry; his thesis, “A Study of the Adsorption of Mercury Vapor on Silver Surfaces using Radioactive Mercury II,” was advised by Prof. Arthur Scott [chemistry 1923–79]. He then earned an MS from UC Berkeley in nuclear chemistry, studying with Nobel laureate Glenn Seaborg, and he earned a PhD in physical and inorganic chemistry from the University of Michigan. For more than three decades, he was a research associate at the Chevron Research Company, primarily investigating radiation; he retired in 1987. His love of music never waned. He founded the Jubilee Jazz Band in 1969 and also played in a 17-piece ’40s-style band. He did hiking, studied European history, traveled, and was an active member of the Presbyterian Church. Lynn and Jacqueline Tucker were married in 1952. He is survived by their two sons and a daughter.

Appeared in Reed magazine: June 2015

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