CARL F. ROMNEY Jr.

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CARL ROMNEY Obituary

CARL F. ROMNEY, JR.
On July 15, 2014, Carl F. Romney, Jr., died at home in Warrenton, VA. He was 90. He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Barbara Doughty Romney; daughters Carolyn Lock of Boston, MA, and Kim Paine of Fairfax, VA; five grandchildren: Barbara Lock Latkany, Jesse Lock, Michael Lock, Dorothy Paine, and Jennie Paine; seven great-grandchildren; and a sister Janet Romney Lees, of Seattle, WA. Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, Romney served in the Navy during WWII; earned a BS in Engineering from Cal Tech; and a PhD in Geophysics from UC Berkeley. He was a Scientific Advisor to the US delegation during negotiation of the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty of 1962. He later served as Director, VELA Seismological Center, AFTAC; Deputy Director for Research, DARPA; and Director, Center for Seismic Studies. Among many honors over his career, Dr. Romney received the President's Award for Distinguished Federal Civilian Service for development of the US's worldwide seismic system to monitor foreign nuclear weapons tests. Dr. Romney was the author of two recent books: Detecting the Bomb: the Role of Seismology in the Cold War, and Recollections, a personal memoir. Memorial celebration to be held at a later date.

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Published by The Washington Post on Jul. 20, 2014.

Memories and Condolences
for CARL ROMNEY

12 Entries

Richard Gustafson

July 14, 2024

Fond memories.

Richard Gustafson

August 16, 2021

My mentor and dear friend from the VELA Seismological Center to the Advanced Research Projects Agency, to the Center for Seismic Studies to the Center for Monitoring Research, you are greatly missed.

Charles Schuster

July 14, 2019

I have both of Carl's books, "Detecting the Bomb" and "Recollections", and thoroughly enjoyed reading them both. They sit on top of my bookcase and I cannot fail to see them everyday, and think of Carl. My thoughts and prayers go out to him and his family.

Peter Basham

August 5, 2014

One of the very greatest in the world on nuclear disarmament. I valued the short times that I had with Carl over many years.

Debbie Minett

August 2, 2014

I so wanted to speak at the service today to express how much impact this man had on my life and career but I knew i would just break down in tears and not be able to finish. A wonderful boss and a wonderful friend. I will miss him. And every time I look up in the sky and see Venus, I will remember him looking at me like I had 2 heads when I didn't know that is what it was back in 89 ;-)

Ron Cook

July 29, 2014

2014 July 29
It was such an enormous privilege to have worked for Carl at AFTAC in Alexandria and subsequently at the pIDC in Arlington and I was very appreciative of what he did for me. He was a gentle and extremely capable man who exuded a contagious love for living and I remember also the great, perceptive grin and the exuberance with which he danced to "YMCA" at an SAIC Christmas party. When he is not around, I'll always miss him.
I continue to research the Doughty."
May God bless.

SMSgt Frank & Edna Calenda

July 23, 2014

For the better part of 12 years, I worked with the systems developed by Dr. Romney. All of those who worked this system were proud of the accomplishments made in our precise reporting of events. We were also proud that we could report events to prevent injury to our astronauts. Please accept our condolences for his passing. Because of his patriotic efforts you must be proud that he made such a positive difference in the world.

Charles Schuster

July 23, 2014

I was Carl's assistant for the Vela Seismological Center in his position as Director when we were both assigned to AFTAC in Alexandria, VA from June 1968 to August 1972 after which the organization moved to Patrick AFB, FL. I went with them but Carl stayed in VA and eventually went to ARPA in their nuclear monitoring group.

It did not take me long to realize that Carl was someone very special when it came to technical expertise. But that aside he was also a wonderful person to know and work with. He never talked down to anyone and always took time to explain the technical aspects of an issue when asked. My field was electrical engineering so there was much about seismic work that I needed to learn. Carl made sure I had amble opportunity to visit our Vela sites in Payson, Arizona and Vernal, Utah and talk with the people in the field. Whenever I told them I worked for Carl they would reverently refer to him as, “The man”.

I have never had the good fortune to work with a more professional group of men and Carl set the standard. We all looked up to him in the most positive way.

Rest in peace Carl. Yours was a life truly well lived.

Ileana Tibuleac

July 21, 2014

He was a true gentleman, with a beautiful mind. I was fortunate to meet him at SMU. He was a good friend of my professor, Gene Herrin. A friendship and correspondence started then, and continued for many years. His support and kindness helped and inspired me all these years. Sincere condolences to Mrs Romney and to the family, who he loved so much.

Richard Gustafson

July 20, 2014

My mentor will be greatly missed.

July 20, 2014

So saddened by this news. I am proud to have known him and be his employee and friend. Rest in peace Carl - you will be greatly missed.

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