Edwin Kinnen

KINNEN Ph.D., Edwin

Of Medfield, Massachusetts, and formerly of Pittsford, New York, passed away on November 28, 2025, at the age of 100. Edwin was the dearly loved husband of Ellen Kinnen for 67 years and the proud father of Susan (Scott) Wilson, Janet (Nathan) Pyles, Peter (Sheila) Kinnen, and Andrew (Jackie) Kinnen. He was also the beloved grandfather of eleven grandchildren.

Born March 9, 1925, in Lancaster, New York, Edwin was a lifelong learner and teacher. He earned degrees from the University of Buffalo, Yale University, and Purdue University, where he received his Ph.D. After a brief time in industry, Edwin became a tenured Professor at the University of Rochester where he retired as Department Chair of Electrical Engineering.

A World War II veteran and member of American Legion Beckwith Post 110, Edwin served with the 264th Infantry Regiment of the 66th "Panther" Division and cherished the reunions he attended later in life.

Ed valued relationships above all else-from his 67-year marriage to Ellen, to the deep bonds he forged with his children and grandchildren, to the students, colleagues, and community members whose lives he touched through decades of volunteer work and mentorship. As a professor, his research was at the forefront of integrated circuits and contributed meaningfully to the development of early microcomputer chips. His long list of Ph.D. candidates, students, and collaborators remains a testament to his commitment to nurturing others.

At age 18, during World War II, he and a fellow Eagle Scout ran the summer camp for Buffalo-area Boy Scouts when adult leaders were called to military service. He later joined an advanced academic military program at the University of Missouri before serving in Europe with the Panther Division.

A gifted maker, Ed enjoyed working with his hands. As a woodworker, he crafted clever custom puzzles; as a winemaker, he honed his technique using only local grapes; as a baker, he was known for his breads, cookies, pies-and an often-requested pie-crust recipe. In the garden, he took special pride in his vibrant dahlias. He shared each of these passions generously, always eager to include his children and grandchildren.

A devoted traveler, Ed explored the world with curiosity and appreciation for other cultures. In the early 1970s he brought his family to Sapporo Japan for a sabbatical year delivering lifelong memories and lessons. He and Ellen especially cherished taking each grandchild on a special trip at age eleven, nurturing in them the same spirit of discovery that defined his life.

Friends and family are kindly invited to pay their respects at Roberts Mitchell Caruso Funeral Home, 15 Miller Street, Medfield, MA 02052, on Thursday, December 4, 2025, from 4:00 pm until 7:00 pm.

Donations in Edwin's honor would be greatly appreciated at Friends of Medfield Seniors, @ The Center of Medfield, payable to FOSI, 1 Ice House Rd. Medfield, MA 02052.