Lawrence Kushner

1924 - 2022

Lawrence Maurice Kushner passed away peacefully in his home in his wife's arms on Friday morning, December 16, 2022 at the age of 98. He was born in New York City on September 20, 1924, to Mary (nee Malkin) and Hyman Kushner. He is survived by his devoted wife of over 50 years, Shirley (nee Brown) Kushner, the love of his life, as he was the love of her life. He is also survived by son, Robb (Jill) Kushner and daughter Leslie Brittle from an earlier marriage and four grandchildren, Matthew (Lauren) Kushner, Elizabeth (Ethan Dropkin) Kushner; Kate McKenzie (nee Brittle), and Frances (Ryan) Wiseman (nee Brittle); six great grandchildren; sisters-in-law Betty Overhulser, Karin Brown, Rita Brown, Dona Kushner, and numerous special nieces and nephews. His brother, Harold, predeceased him.

Larry graduated from Queens College in 1943 with a major in chemistry. This was followed by the A.M. and Ph.D. degrees in physical chemistry from Princeton University in 1947 and 1949 respectively.

Dr. Kushner joined the National Bureau of Standards (NBS), now the National Institute of Standards and Technology in 1948 and began a series of researches on the structure of micelles of surface-active agents in aqueous solutions. In 1956 he switched fields and set up a research group to study the electronic and mechanical properties of metals. In 1961 he was made Chief of the NBS Metallurgy Division, a post he held until 1966. In the period 1964-65, Dr. Kushner was special assistant for legislation to the Assistance Secretary of Commerce for Science and Technology. In that capacity, he worked on the development of legislation to assist state colleges and universities in providing technology transfer services to local business and industry.

Shortly after returning to NBS from that special assignment, Dr. Kushner was appointed Deputy Director and then Director of the NBS Institute of Applied Technology with responsibility for such programs as fire research and safety, building technology, voluntary standardization, and computer science and technology. In 1969, he became Deputy Director of NBS, taking special interest in technological innovation in industry and in standardization activities on a national and international level. He served as Acting Director of the NBS from May 1972 to February 1973.

In 1973, he was nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate as a Commissioner of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, an independent regulatory agency having authority to regulate the safety of a wide range of consumer products. On completing his term of appointment in October 1977, Dr. Kushner returned to NBS where he resumed his studies of technological innovation and the Government's role therein. In February 1980, he left government service to accept an appointment to the senior scientific staff of The Mitre Corporation. His studies there were primarily in regulatory toxicology, the management of hazardous waste, and several aspects of the nuclear fuel cycle including uranium enrichment and the disposal of high-level waste. In 1985, he was promoted to the position of Consulting Scientist, only the second person in the company to be so designated.

Throughout his career, Dr. Kushner has been active in a range of professional activities. During the '50s and '60s, he lectured in chemistry at the American University and supervised Ph.D. theses at Catholic University and at the University of Maryland. He served several years as Adjunct Professor of Engineering and Public Policy, Carnegie-Mellon University. In 1976, he was National President of Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society, and served that Society on several of its national committees. He was also active on the Section Committee on Industrial Science of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. From 1972 to 1975, he was a member of The Governor of Maryland's Science Advisory Council.

The author of many scientific papers, Dr. Kushner has also spoken extensively on the interaction between science and society. His honors include the Gold Medal of the U.S. Department of Commerce, Honorary Life Membership in the American Society of Testing and Materials, Member of the Washington Academy of Scientists, Meritorious Service Award of the American National Standards Institute, and as an undergraduate, the Student's Medal of the American Institute of Chemists. He is listed in Who's Who in America.

Given his many accomplishments, Larry Kushner was a modest, down-to-earth man. He had a wonderful sense of humor; he had a great appreciation for music and the arts and was a talented photographer. He was an avid student of history.

His wide circle of friends and family appreciated his kind, loving, and thoughtful nature. He was a devoted son, son-in-law, husband, father, father-in-law, uncle, and grandfather. He took excellent care of both his mind and body, which sustained him for so many of his 98 years. He and his devoted wife, Shirley, loved to travel and spent many memorable trips throughout the U.S. and abroad. Another passion of theirs was golf, and both were avid golfers. Above all, they relished one another's company. While they enjoyed being with others, they were also happy just to be together, talking, watching sports on TV, laughing, and loving. He will be missed by all who knew him.

Pastor Jeff Thompson will officiate at a memorial celebration to honor Larry Kushner's life on Wednesday, December 28, 11 a.m. at Norbeck Country Club, 17200 Cashell Road, Rockville, MD 20853, with a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Doctors Without Borders (doctorswithoutborders.org).