HOBART WILSON KRANER died peacefully in his home in Essex, Connecticut, on Thursday, January 11th, just days before his 84th birthday. He was greatly loved by his family and friends, leaving a legacy of his generous and loving spirit. Hobie was an accomplished scientist, but loved his family most of all. He leaves his wife of 60 years, Carol Bostock Kraner, of Essex, CT, and Murrells Inlet, SC, and his children Keith Kraner, of Glastonbury, CT, Neil Kraner of Granby, CT, Jeffrey Kraner, of Middletown, CT, and Jennifer Kraner, of Wilmington, NC, as well as their spouses Anne Kraner, Kim Kraner, Deborah Kraner and Tony Chambers. Hobie also leaves eight beloved grandchildren: James Kraner, Jason Kraner, Timothy Kraner, Nathan Kraner, Emma Kraner, Lily Kraner, Haley France and Jackson France. Hobie grew up in Bethlehem, PA, and developed his life-long love of sailing and sailboat racing during summers on the Delaware River. He competed several times in the Comet class nationals in a boat he had built himself, once with his new bride as crew. He always had a boat to sail or race, and made sure to pass his passion along to his kids and grandkids too. He always seemed to have a boat building or repair project going on, and was known to fiberglass just about anything. Hobie attended MIT as an undergraduate, initially for naval architecture program, but his interests quickly led him to Physics. He completed his doctoral degree in Physics at MIT and worked as a post-graduate researcher there before moving to Brookhaven National Laboratory, where he stayed for the remainder of his career. His work involved building detectors used in particle accelerator experiments, including at the supercollider at CERN in Switzerland. He was a Fellow of the IEEE and earned many other distinctions. Hobie valued civic engagement. He was actively involved in his church and community, especially after retirement, when he worked passionately on environmental protection initiatives in Murrells Inlet, SC. He encouraged his children not only to seek professional success but also to make time for strong family bonds, activities and events. When their kids were younger, Hobie and Carol took the entire family for annual month-long camping trips all over the western states. He loved to tell the story of coming down Wolfcreek Pass in the old VW Bus with camper in tow, and the family hold those trips as special memories. Nothing gave him more joy than large family gatherings. A memorial service will be held at First Congregational Church of Essex on Sunday January 14th at 3:00pm with informal reception to follow. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the church steeple fund in his name.
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Very sad to hear the news about Hobie passing away. He was a great man, great neighbor, and true defender of the natural resources. Thoughts and prayers to Carol and family.
Dan Morgan
January 19, 2018
We are deeply saddened by the news of Hobie Kraner's passing. We lost a pioneer in silicon detector development field and our ex-group leader in Brookhaven National Laboratory. I was hired by him 30 years ago into his Group, luckily. I have known him since then and we kept contact even after his retirement. I was just sending him the birthday wishes on January 12th by email. Sadly it didn't reach him. Hobie is a father figure to me from starts; I listened, respected and looked up to him. His kindness, consideration and warmness always touch people around him. Certainly his character made me immediately felt ease starting working in the group. He opened the door for me; and then guided, helped and encouraged me throughout my career. He led the detectors development on silicon substrate sizes from 1 inch wafers to 2, 3, eventually up to 4 inch wafers before his retirement. The developed detectors have been served in wide scientific fields over the years, such as High Energy Physics, Nuclear Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Photon Science and Astronomy I thought of him often after his retirement and he will be missed dearly! I and my husband, Harry will treasure the memories of being with him always; we are sending our sincere condolence to Carol and the family at this difficult time.
Wei Chen
January 18, 2018
Carol , we love you and are holding you and your family in our hearts. We will miss him dearly.
George & Jude Marshall
George Marshall
January 18, 2018
We are deeply saddened by the news of Hobie Kraner's passing. We lost a pioneer in silicon detector development field and our ex-group leader in Brookhaven National Laboratory. I was hired by him 30 years ago into his Group, luckily. I have known him since then and we kept contact even after his retirement. I was just sending him the birthday wishes on January 12th by email, since his and my birthdays are just within the same month of the year, January. Sadly it didn't reach him. Hobie is a father figure to me from starts; I listened, respected and looked up to him. His kindness, consideration and warmness always touch people around him. Certainly his character made me immediately felt ease starting working in the group. He opened the door, guided, helped and encouraged me through out my career. He led the detectors development from 1 inch wafers up to 2, 3, eventually up to 4 inch wafers before his retirement. The developed detectors have been served in wide scientific fields over the years, such as High Energy Physics, Nuclear Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Photon Science and Astronomy I thought of him often after his retirement and he will be missed dearly! I and my family will treasure the memories of being with him and his family always; we are sending our sincere condolence to Carol and the family at this difficult time.
Wei Chen
January 17, 2018
Hobie's knowledge and commitment to conservation inspired us. Our lives were enriched as we tried to follow his example.
Jeanne & Gary Weinreich
January 17, 2018
Carol, I am so sorry to learn of your loss of Hobie. May your grief soon be replaced by the memories of good times shared. May he Rest In Peace.
Love, Jeanne Rosol
January 17, 2018
Hobie was such a great guy. He will be missed indeed.
We are thinking of you Carol.
michael and thea walker
January 17, 2018
Carol, Ed and I wish to extend our Sympathy to you and your family at this most difficult time. May Our Lord be with you as you morn the death of you dear husband Hobbie. Our prayers are with you, Luciann Slomkowski ( A Tennis friend LItchfirld Tennis)
, our prayers are with you, a Tennis friend from LT
January 16, 2018
Carol, I mourn the loss of Hobie! Hobie and you were a wonderful couple and it was my pleasure to know you both when you came to Litchfield CC to play tennis. I wish you Carol the best......Tom Wise
January 16, 2018
This has been a great loss deeply felt by his family, his friends and colleagues. I had met Hobie when he joined Brookhaven National Laboratory in the midsixties. My first contact with him was when he invited me for a sail on the Great South Bay. The image of him on the sailboat has always stayed with me. Since then we have worked together within the same maturing group of people until his retirement. His unique personality traits, with his enjoyment of the many activities and friendships has been respected and loved by everyone who knew him. His life and contributions to science may have been somewhat less known to people outside his field. He was truly a pioneer in the field of instruments for research detectors of radiation. Starting with the development of a detector that revolutionized advances in nuclear science early in his career, he continued until his retirement with innovations that have contributed to broad areas of science besides physics, among those, chemistry and nuclear medicine. In the work where he was a leader and inspiration to others, when it came to publishing the results, he was most generous, giving credit to everyone who made even the smallest contribution. Having known him and having worked with him has enriched our lives. There have been many occasions since his retirement when someone from our group would say, If Hobie were here . My wife Jelena (Lela) and I will miss him. Our condolences to Carol and the family.
Veljko Radeka
January 16, 2018
Carol you were blessed with a wonderful husband that was loved by all of us. Remember all the good times we had on the court and know we are all saddened to hear of your loss. Love, Ricky
Ricky Leffingwell
January 16, 2018
My sincere condolences to the Kraner family for your loss. May God comfort you during this difficult time of sorrow and pain.
DR
January 16, 2018
During more han 35 years, Hobie Kraner scientifically has inspired me, as he did many others around the world. But above all he was a role model for behaving in a responsible and human way. Erik Heijne
Erik Heijne
January 15, 2018
I was blessed to have worked with Hobie for 16+ years at Brookhaven National lab. Every day was a fun filled learning experience that I will treasure always. He always told me family comes first. He treated me like I was another son and helped me through some rough times. With his knowledge and guidance we create some amazing projects. I think of him often and he will be dearly missed. A special man indeed. Carole you and your family are in our prayers Rolf and June
Rolf Beuttenmuller
January 14, 2018
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