Darrell L. Judge

1934 - 2014

Darrell L. Judge


Darrell Lynn Judge of Warner Springs, California, formerly from Palos Verdes Estates - cherished husband, father and grandfather - passed away Tuesday, August 26, at Temecula Valley Hospital, Temecula, CA. He was 79 years old.

Darrell Lynn was born November 2, 1934 in Albion, Illinois to Virgil and Pauline Judge. He graduated from Edwards County High School in 1952 and from Eastern Illinois University in 1956 where he earned his B.S. (with honors) in Physics and Mathematics.

He continued his studies in Physics as a graduate student at the University of Southern California in 1956; he obtained his M.S. in 1963 and his Ph.D. in 1965. Awarded full professorship in 1975, Dr. Judge continued in that role until 2013. Additionally, he served as the founding director of USC's Space Sciences Center from 1978 until his retirement in 2013; research interests included: space science, spectroscopy, deep space and sounding rocket flight experiments. Professor Judge was honored with Professor Emeritus status in May, 2013.

Dr. Judge was recognized as one of the foremost scientific authorities on our solar system's Sun in the extreme ultraviolet; his contributions to the field of physics and astronomy were significant, substantial, and served to propel this previously fledgling field forward in great strides. Some of his most notable contributions include experiments flown on Pioneer 10 and 11 and the SOHO (Solar and Heliospheric Observatory) spacecraft (a collaboration between NASA and the ESA). Pioneer 10 was the first mission to Jupiter and the first to leave our solar system.

Professor Judge's academic accolades include: Senior Scientist Humboldt Awardee, Humboldt Stiftung, Germany (1991); the Distinguished Alumni Award of the Eastern Illinois University; NASA's Group Achievement Award to Pioneer 11 Saturn Mission Team; NASA Public Service Group Achievement Award to Pioneer 10 Scientific Instrument Team and the NASA Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal (1974).

If you were fortunate enough to have known Darrell, then you would agree that words alone could never serve to illustrate the reality of his kindness, wisdom, compassion, humor, discernment, and intelligence.

We are profoundly grateful for, and were blessed by, every single moment we had with him.

Darrell is preceded in death by his parents, Virgil and Pauline Judge, and his brother, Jon Judge. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Marjorie Waddell Judge and his children Pamela Lynn Adamson, Kevin Scott Judge, Andrea Judge Weinberg and his sister Jean Ann Becker, and five grandchildren.

A Memorial Service will be held at 1 pm, Saturday, September 6th at Trinity Lutheran Church, 30470 Pauba Road, Temecula, CA, 92592.

A scholarship fund has been established at USC in honor of Professor Darrell Judge. Donations may be addressed to:

USC Dornsife Advancement
444 South Flower - 41st Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90071

Memo: Professor Darrell Judge. Please sign the guest book at www.dailybreeze.com/obits.