Bertrand Kent Harrison *59

Kent died Aug. 14, 2024, in Provo, Utah, of natural causes at age 90.

Born July 21, 1934, in Provo, Kent graduated from Brigham Young University in 1955 and earned a Ph.D. from Princeton in 1959. At Princeton, Ken studied theoretical physics with John Wheeler as a National Science Fellow.

After Princeton Kent worked at the Los Alamos National Laboratory and later at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Ultimately Kent found his professional home in academia. He joined the physics faculty at Brigham Young University, eventually serving as department chair.

Kent received five NSF grants, did mathematical physics research, mentored graduate students, and supervised the science part of a bachelor’s degree for adults desiring to finish college. Kent collaborated with several Nobel laureates, published more than 50 scientific articles about general relativity, and was the lead author for the seminal book Gravitation Theory and Gravitational Collapse. He received BYU’s Alcuin Award for excellence in teaching and retired in 2000.

Predeceased by his wife Janyce, Kent is survived by his children Alan, Neil, Paul, and Mary Ellen; 12 grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren.

Graduate alumni memorials are prepared by the APGA.