Paul Loring Rothwell, age 85, former longtime resident of Littleton, MA, passed away peacefully at his home in Newburyport, MA, on October 11, 2023. He leaves behind his devoted and loving wife of 58 years, Natalie, as well as his two cherished daughters, Anne and Christina.
Paul was born on April 2, 1938, in Norwood, MA to the late Guy and Mildred (Judd) Rothwell. He grew up in Canton, MA and was one of four children in his family.
Throughout his youth, Paul's intelligence and curiosity were evident; he graduated from Northfield Mount Hermon School, a private boarding school in Mount Hermon, MA, with cum laude honors. It was at Harvard College where Paul found his passion for mathematics and science and from which, as a member of Dudley House and the Class of 1960, he graduated with an A.B. in Engineering and Applied Physics. Paul continued his education with an M.S. (1962) and a Ph.D. (1967) in Physics and an M.B.A. (1978) from Northeastern University (Boston, MA).
Paul met Natalie in 1962 and in 1965, they exchanged vows, eternally tying together their beautiful, loving relationship. They resided in Littleton, MA for over 55 years to raise their two daughters.
Paul enlisted in the United States Air Force, where he proudly served until his honorable discharge in 1970. For forty-three years, he was a civilian Research Space Physicist at the U.S. Air Force Geophysics Laboratory on Hanscom Field Air Force Base in Lexington, MA. Throughout his career, he diligently published hundreds of papers on the magnetosphere and auroral phenomena, developing new theories and presenting his work at scientific conferences all over the world. He had many international colleagues with whom he enjoyed collaborating. Paul earned numerous awards and recognition for his dedicated contribution to space physics.
Despite these accomplishments, Paul was a very down-to-earth and humble man, and his greatest passion was his family. He was patient, loving and supportive. Whether it was building a tree house or doll house, he was up for the task and enjoyed spending time and having fun with his daughters and granddaughters.
Paul had a passion for reading, traveling, and learning different languages. He was fluent in Russian and was familiar with Spanish and Japanese. He was a curious man, always learning something new in his spare time.
Paul and Natalie had many similar interests. Whether it was ballroom dancing, skiing, traveling, canoeing on Long Lake, or working on the Littleton Scholarship Trust, they worked together as a wonderful team. They were active members of the community as well as avid parishioners of St. Anne’s Church. In their neighborhood, they were known to take walks holding hands.
Paul is survived by his devoted wife, Natalie Rose (Chermesino) Rothwell; daughter, Anne; daughter and son-in-law, Christina, and Justin Pinardi; and two grandchildren, Kate Gerrish and Stephanie Pinardi. Paul is also survived by his two sisters, Mary Fran Wattles and Shirley Rothwell, and many nieces and nephews as well as many local and international friends. In addition to his parents, Paul was pre-deceased by his sister, Martha Pierce (2020).
Services will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to The Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, PO Box 5014, Hagerstown, MD 21741.
