Edwin Dudley Hale

Hale—Edwin Dudley Hale, 86, January 6, 2020, from complications related to Parkinson’s disease, in Mountain View, Calif. Ed was born on March 21, 1933, in Oak Park, Ill., to Edwin Hale and Faith Prentice. After graduating from Oak Park River Forest High School, he earned a bachelor’s degree (mechanical engineering) from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Mass. In both high school and college, Ed lettered in track and soccer. After graduating from MIT, Ed began his career on a team that designed the Mercury and Gemini modules at NASA. He was offered an opportunity to work for a military airplane manufacturer but declined due to his Quaker beliefs.

Ed joined Liquid Carbonic Corporation in research and development of cryogenic technologies in food processing and the recycling of materials. He was a past president of the American Cryogenic Society and was considered a leading figure in the industry.

Ed and Janet Moore were married on March 30, 1963, in La Grange, Ill., forming a loving partnership that would last 56 years. Their son, David, was born in 1964. Katie, their daughter, was born in 1968. David and Katie were raised as Friends.

In Illinois, Ed served on the board of American Friends Service Committee and supported programs for social justice and ending the Vietnam War.

After their retirement, Ed and Janet moved to California to be near David in 2000, and Katie soon followed. They transferred their memberships to Palo Alto (Calif.) Meeting from Downers Grove (Ill.) Meeting, which they had joined as convinced Friends in 1970.

In Palo Alto, Ed was clerk of the Building and Grounds Committee, organizing such tasks as painting lines in the parking lot, installing water-saving toilets, re-roofing the meeting house, and lobbying the meeting to approve the addition of solar panels. A butterfly-friendly Buddleia bush that Ed and Janet planted by the walkway thrives to this day.

Ed was an invaluable behind-the-scenes supporter of Grannies for Peace, a singing group organized by Janet. He was involved in work to help unhoused persons, including the “Stop the Ban” movement to allow unhoused car dwellers in Palo Alto to park on city streets. Ed drove a truck to pick up food for the Mountain View Community Center.

Ed and Janet were war tax resisters withholding military tax dollars. They redirected the funds to the People’s Life Fund in Berkeley, Calif., for investment in grants to local humanitarian projects. They paid fines and penalties to the Internal Revenue Service as a result of their conscientious objection.

Upon retiring, Ed was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. He bravely faced his challenges without complaint for more than 20 years. Ed and Janet moved several times to different hospitals and rehab facilities to accommodate the progression of the disease. Janet, David, and Katie were Ed’s primary caregivers. Because Ed was in a nursing home nearby, David was able to eat breakfast with him several times each week. The attention given to Ed by his children was exceptional.

Ed will be remembered for his good nature and gentle presence. He is survived by his wife Janet Hale; his son David Hale (Laura Torres) and daughter Katie Hale and her partner Lia Milhoan; two grandchildren; and his sister, Marjorie Kipper.