Dr. Eric J. Lund

Dr. Eric Jon Lund, 58, of Durham, New Hampshire, passed away on August 17, 2025, following a recent diagnosis of a brain tumor. A devoted scientist, public servant, and crusader for justice, Eric made a lasting impact on the communities and institutions he served.

Born on July 26, 1967, in Kansas City, Missouri, Eric was the first of three children born to Dorothy and Donald Lund. His father’s work required frequent transfers during his early years, which helped Eric develop a close relationship with his siblings, William and Kathryn. He grew up in South Florida, graduating from Miami Palmetto Senior High School in 1985. He finished fifth in his class and earned a Silver Knight Award in Spanish, which he spoke fluently.

Eric earned a B.S. in Physics, with a minor in music, from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1989. He completed his Ph.D. in astrophysics at Dartmouth College in 1995 on a NASA fellowship and spent time at the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute as part of his early research trajectory.

Following his doctorate, Eric joined the University of New Hampshire in Durham, where he spent the remainder of his career as a Research Scientist in the Department of Physics. A specialist in space plasma physics, he contributed to the Fast Auroral SnapshoT (FAST) mission and other important projects. He authored numerous scientific papers, reviewed grant proposals for NASA, and served as a referee for scientific journals. For many years he attended the American Geophysical Union (AGU) meeting in San Francisco, contributing to and drawing inspiration from the scientific community he loved.

Committed to public service, Eric was elected to his first term on the Durham Town Council in March 2023 and was reelected in 2025. He served on the Historic District Commission, the Cemetery Committee, and as an alternate on the Planning Board. Even during his illness, he continued to attend meetings virtually. In recent years, he believed strongly that working for change at the local level had the most meaningful impact on daily life, and he devoted himself to that work with energy and integrity.

Eric’s hobbies reflected his love of the outdoors and curiosity about the world: walking, gardening, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and traveling. He was a proud MIT alumnus and was active in the state alumni community. He made New Hampshire his home for more than three decades.

Eric is survived by his mother, Dorothy Lund; his sister, Kathryn Payne; his brother-in-law, Trenton Payne; and his nephew, Magnus Payne. He was preceded in death by his father, Donald Lund, and his brother, William Lund.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, August 23, at 1:00 p.m. at the Community Church of Durham. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Red Cross in Eric’s memory.