Hale Van Dorn Bradt ’52

Hale came to us from Wilson High School in Washington, D.C. He majored in music and ate at Prospect. He was a member of the St. Paul’s Society, played in the orchestra, and roomed with Bob Chalmers and Jim Melcher. He is also remembered by his classmates as leader of a group of those who captured the clapper in Nassau Hall. His time in the Navy was served as a deck officer and navigator on the USS Diphda.

In 1961, Hale earned a Ph.D. in physics from MIT. For 40 years he was an MIT professor of physics, retiring in 2001. During this time, he worked in X-ray astronomy with NASA rockets and satellites for multiple missions, and received accolades for both his research and teaching service. In his retirement, he continued to advise freshmen at MIT and published several textbooks.

Hale died Nov. 14, 2024. He is survived by his wife, Dorothy; and daughters Elizabeth and Dorothy. To them, the class sends its condolences and respect to Hale for his service to our nation.