OSA Mourns the loss of Casper J. Aronson

Casper J. "Cappy" Aronson, 90, a weapons engineer with the old Naval Ordnance Laboratory, died on April 12, 2007 in Leesburg, VA.

An OSA Emeritus Member, Aronson received a bachelor's degree in physics in 1938 and a master's degree in optics in 1940 from the University of Rochester.

He moved to Washington, DC to work with the Carnegie Institution before joining the Naval Ordnance Laboratory (now called the Naval Surface Warfare Center) in 1941. He was chief of the Explosions Research Department at the time of his retirement in 1974.

During his tenure, he participated in projects in Greenland and Antarctica and led projects during nuclear tests in Nevada and the Marshall Islands. Among his honors was the Arthur S. Flemming Award of the Washington Junior Chamber of Commerce, honoring outstanding young men in federal service. After his retirement, Aronson worked as a consultant.

Aronson visited every continent in the world and enjoyed sailing and antique cars. His wife of 59 years, Eleanor Jaffray Aronson, died in 2003. Survivors include a daughter, Rhyda Aronson Conant, and a granddaughter.