Harry Jeffrey Kimble

1949 - 2024

Harry Jeffrey Kimble, a brilliant quantum physicist and devoted husband, father, and grandfather, died in Austin, Texas, on Monday, September 2. He was 75.

Jeff was dazzled by life. He was delighted by nature, captivated by physics, and above all else, devoted to his family. He adored his wife, Margaret Smith-Kimble; his two daughters, Megan Kimble and Katherine Grooms; his son-in-law, Tyler Grooms; and his three granddaughters, Eleanor Grooms, Bryn Grooms, and Madeline Grooms.

Jeff was born on April 23, 1949, in Floydada, Texas, to Joyce and John Kimble, the second of four sons: John, Jim, and Joel, who died in 2010. Jeff attended Abilene Christian College on a basketball scholarship and received his Ph.D. in physics from the University of Rochester in 1978. He was a professor at the University of Texas at Austin from 1979 to 1989 and at Caltech in Pasadena, California, from 1989 until his retirement in 2021.

During his distinguished career, Jeff pioneered the field of quantum optics, pushed the boundaries of quantum information science, and mentored dozens of young scientists from across the world. A member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, Jeff was a daring and creative experimental physicist who profoundly shaped the field of quantum physics.

Perhaps Jeff's most famous experiment involved Alice and Bob, nicknames for two sensitive pieces of equipment in his lab at Caltech. In 1998, Jeff demonstrated that Alice could send a message to Bob (teleport a beam of light) using quantum entanglement. Normally, Alice and Bob would communicate through what are known as classical means, such as by sending signals through telephone wiring. Jeff, however, demonstrated that signals between the two can exist in a quantum state. This experiment is considered the first fundamental high-fidelity demonstration of teleportation. For this, Jeff received various accolades, including a callout on The Daily Show (as well as an incalculable number of teleportation jokes).

Jeff did not much care for fashion, but he loved to shop for outdoor gear, which is what he was doing in 1977 in Birmingham, Michigan, when he met a salesclerk who left him "stupefied." Heart racing, he asked her if she liked coffee. "There are those moments, not very often, but it's better to try to run and jump on that train than let it fade into the distance," he later recalled. Meeting his wife, he said, was "a miracle in my life." Jeff and Margaret, a lifelong educator, were married for 45 years, the Ioves of each other's lives.

Jeff was a proud father to Katherine and Megan and professed his love frequently and without reservation. Katie followed in his footsteps to become a professor. Megan, a journalist, shares his passion for the outdoors and followed his footsteps on hikes across the world.

For many years, Jeff hiked or biked into the San Gabriel Mountains almost daily. For Jeff, there was no bad weather, only bad clothes. In 2021, he and Midge left his beloved mountains to move to Austin, Texas, to be closer to their family. Jeff was a goofy, kind, and caring grandfather, his days illuminated by his darling granddaughters.

Jeff was silly and serious in equal measure. He felt things deeply. He danced like no one was watching, but often many people were, because Jeff dancing was a sight to behold, impossible to resist, much like his dazzling smile. He knew what mattered in life and, mostly, he ignored the rest.

In early 2023, Jeff was diagnosed with dementia, an especially cruel disease for such a brilliant man. Midge cared for Jeff during this difficult illness, selflessly and with enormous fortitude, a testament to their extraordinary partnership.

His family will love and miss him always.