Born Heinz Berthold Karplus in Berlin, Germany, to Sigmar Karplus and Rosa (née Anker) Karplus. Henry and his younger sister Hannah Elsa (Shamash) escaped Nazi Germany in 1939 on a Kindertransport train, arriving to safety in England.
Henry completed his bachelor’s degree at King’s College London and master’s degree at the Illinois Institute of Technology, both in physics. He married Jean Avril Clarke in Taunton, Somerset in 1951. The couple immigrated to the United States immediately afterwards on the Mauretania, settling in the Chicago area, where Henry worked at IITRI—Illinois Institute of Technology Research Institute (originally named Armour Research Foundation) and Argonne National Labs. His career as a research physicist and engineer focused on acoustics and ultrasonics, generating numerous patents. He was a member emeritus of Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Acoustical Society of America, and Sigma Xi.
Henry lived with his wife Jean in Hinsdale, Illinois, where they raised their four children. Two of them enjoyed his tutelage in math and science, building Heathkits, an oscilloscope, science fair projects, and other fun that guided their successful adult careers. He was also involved with their Boy Scout troops and served many years as a merit badge counselor.
In his middle years, he pursued interests in swimming and cycling, joining the Masters Swim Team at the YMCA and teaching water exercise classes and children’s beginning swimming there. He rode his bicycle many miles across multiple states with the Argonne and Elmhurst bike clubs and with family members. He was an active volunteer with Theatre of Western Springs and Congregation B’nai Israel. Hundreds have engaged in his presentations relating the story of the Kindertransport.
After his wife of 54 years passed, he moved to Boulder, Colorado, in 2012 to reside near two of his children. The sparkle in his eyes and his broad enthusiastic smile won him many friends. His continuous expressions of love and gratitude for every small blessing warmed the hearts of all who knew him. His advice to all is “Enjoy”.
Henry is survived by his children Lester Karplus (Karna Knapp) of Nederland, Colorado, Kevin Karplus (Michele Hart) of Santa Cruz, California, Wayne Karplus (Alicia Henry) of Bloomington, Illinois, and Nadine/Serene Karplus (Jim Disinger) of Nederland, Colorado, five grandchildren, and nine great grandchildren.
(Originally published in the July 2, 2020, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)
