Joel Edward Henkel ’52

Joel died of congestive heart failure July 29, 2002. His ashes were interred at Christ Church Episcopal in Short Hills, N.J., beside his parents, Marvin '25 and Eleanor.

In the BOH, Joel described himself as a "nonconformist stand-alone maverick." But his contribution to the 50th book of essays, titled "What is Mind" (in collaboration with Bill Gough), revealed an intellect dedicated to exploring the edges of knowledge. A physics major at Princeton, Joel belonged to Elm Club and roomed with Mal Payne.

After earning master's degrees in physics at the U. of New Hampshire and Yale, he later completed his PhD at UNH. He did stints at the Brookhaven National Lab, Upton, N.Y., Wright-Patterson AFB, Dayton, Ohio, and taught at Youngstown[Ohio] State U., and the U. of New Hampshire.

With his wife, Stephanie, whom he met while constructing his post-and-beam house in the woods near Hillsborough, N.H., he settled into his role as an independent scholar, studying the evolution of the mind.

Joel is survived by Stephanie; his companion of many years, Mame Willey; and his brother, Stephen '55. The class extends to them its deepest sympathy.

The Class of 1952