Malcolm Hayden Hebb

Family-Placed Death Notice

HEBB, Malcolm MALCOLM HAYDEN HEBB Malcolm Hayden Hebb, a gentleman of extraordinary genius, passed away peacefully at his home in Eustis, Florida on August 11, 2009 at the age of 99. He was predeceased by his lovely wife, Marion Evers Hebb. He was born in Marquette, Michigan in 1910 and moved with his parents, the noted physicist, Thomas Carlyle Hebb and Evelyn Hayden Hebb, to Vancouver, British Columbia, where in 1931, he won the Governor General's Gold Medal in Arts and Science as head of the graduating class at the University of British Columbia. In 1936 at Harvard University, he graduated summa cum laude with a Ph.D. in Physics. He was also the recipient of a Traveling Fellowship from Harvard. With the award from the Fellowship, Dr. Hebb traveled abroad to Holland where he continued his studies in mathematical physics. Upon his return from Holland in 1938, Dr. Hebb went on to teach physics at Duke University in Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina and, during World War II, he headed the Theory Group at the Harvard Underwater Sound Laboratory where he developed novel ideas in the new field of electro acoustics, which militarily were applied to submarine detection. Dr. Hebb joined the General Electric Research Laboratory staff in 1949 and became Manager of the General Electric Physics Research Department in Schenectady, New York in 1952. A brilliant and noted mathematical physicist, he had many publications in the field of solid state physics and, in the world of science, his insight and organizational skills were recognized by industry and government alike. He always liked to say that "freedom of inquiry is the very essence of research." While at GE, Dr. Hebb was also involved with research at the Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory (The Knolls) in Schenectady, NY. In the 1950s, the Knolls' purpose was to conduct nuclear research and development, including the design of a naval propulsion plant that would use nuclear energy rather than fossil fuel to power ships and submarines. In 1960, Dr. Hebb was appointed to Eisenhower's President's Science Advisory Committee's ad hoc six-man Panel on Man-In-Space. The group was tasked with monitoring NASA's activities and its goals and manned space missions in the foreseeable future to include Mars and the Moon. On November 1, 1963, the title and degree of Doctor of Science (honors' causa) was conferred upon Dr. Hebb by his alma mater, the University of British Columbia. He retired from General Electric in 1968 and he and his wife relocated to the warmer, sunnier climate of Lake County, Florida. Although Dr. Hebb had no children, Uncle Malcolm, as he was fondly known to all, was surrounded by many adoring nieces, nephews, grand-nieces, and grand-nephews, all of whom are deeply saddened at the loss of such an exceptional and exceedingly generous person. Dr. Hebb is survived by his younger sister, Dorothy (Trotty) Hebb Miller of Atlanta, Georgia. Following cremation, Dr. Hebb's ashes will be interred next to those of his wife, Marion in Mount Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge Massachusetts. The family would like to extend warmest thanks to the Home Companions of Lake County Inc, Florida and, in particular, Kellie Keith for the many years of quality life and care she and her caregivers have provided to Dr. Hebb. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the charity of your choice. You may share your own special thoughts and memories by visiting hamlin hilbish.com. Hamlin & Hilbish Funeral Directors. 326 E. Orange Avenue, Eustis. 352-357-4193.