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 David A. Park, 92
 January 19, 2012
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — David Allen Park, 92, of Williamstown died at Williamstown Commons on Thursday evening, Jan. 19, 2012, surrounded by his family and friends.
Born in 1919, the only child of Edwin Avery and Frances Paine Park, he graduated from Gunnery School in Connecticut and from Harvard in 1941.
Mr. Park was an instructor in physics at Williams College for many years year, beginning his teaching career in 1941 as a lecturer after earning his bachelor's degree and retiring in 1988. He was Webster Atwell-Class of 1921 Professor Emeritus and college President Adam Falk said of him, "Generations of Williams students recall him as a fascinating teacher, and his renown as a science educator was in fact worldwide."
During World War II, he worked to develop radar-jamming technology, first in Boston and later in England, while attached to the Eighth Air Force.
He received his doctorate from the University of Michigan in 1950, and was subsequently a member of the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, before returning to Williams. A full professor since 1960, he was also at different times a visiting professor at the University of Ceylon, Cambridge University, L'Institut Henri Poincare, the University of Visakapatnam, and the University of Papua/New Guinea in Port Morseby.
Mr. Park was the author of dozens of scientific papers and eight books, including "The Image of Eternity" and "The How and the Why," both of which won the Phi Beta Kappa Society's Science Book Prize. His last book, a history of cosmology entitled "The Grand Contraption," was published in 2005 when he was 86.
His wife, the former Clara Justine Claiborne, whom he married in August 1945, died 18 months ago.
Perhaps his greatest passion, besides his work and his family, was for travel. He took many long trips with his wife, with his children, and alone, choosing always the cheapest, most miserable, flea-ridden hotels and restaurants. He traveled all over the world, but to Asia especially: many visits to Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka, Southeast Asia, Nepal and Tibet.
During his last 36 hours, he spoke often and anxiously of the trip he was about to take: "Have you got the tickets, how long is the stop-over, will they call us when it's time to get in line," and finally, "Did you pack the summer clothes-"
He leaves two daughters, Katherine Park, Jessica Park and Rachel Park; a son, Paul Park, and two grandchildren, Miranda and Lucius.
FUNERAL NOTICE — Funeral arrangements for Mr. Park will wait until spring. Flynn & Dagnoli-Montagna Home for Funerals, West Chapels, is in charge of arrangements.
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