Obituary for Dr. Nelson C. Maynard
Dr. Nelson C. Maynard, age 85, of Gilford, NH and Greensboro, VT passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on October 13, 2023 after a long and courageous battle with Parkinson’s Disease. He was born to the late John and Nettie Maynard on April 18, 1938 in Concord, NH where he grew up. He graduated from Concord High School at the top of his class. He lived his life in service of God and in loving devotion to his family. He and his wife Janet (Shepardson) were happily married for 61 years. He was the beloved father of their two children, Daniel Nelson Maynard (wife Nataliia) of Stowe, VT and Dianne Maynard Christensen (husband Lawrence) of Rochester, NY. He is also survived by his sister Sylvia Elder of Annapolis, MD, as well as nieces and grand nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, his brother John Maynard Jr., and brother-in-law Samuel Elder.
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Dr. Maynard was a world renowned research scientist and experimental physicist. He received a BS in Electrical Engineering from the University of New Hampshire in 1960, a MS in Electrical Engineering from MIT in 1962, and a PhD in Physics from the University of New Hampshire in 1966. He began his professional career with the Electrodynamics Branch at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, MD as an Astrophysicist and pioneered techniques for measuring electric fields in the ionosphere, which sits about 50km above the Earth's surface. His work, which included numerous satellite and sounding rocket programs, was motivated by his fascination with the beautiful naturally occurring aura borealis, more commonly known as the northern lights. In 1984, Dr. Maynard joined the staff at the Air Force Geophysics Laboratory at Hanscom Air Force Base where he served as Chief of the Space Plasmas and Fields Branch, overseeing a broad spectrum of basic and applied research programs to specify, predict, and mitigate against solar/space weather hazards to Department of Defense assets and operations in space. After retiring from the US Government in 1993 he continued his work at Mission Research Corporation in Nashua, NH and later as research professor at the University of New Hampshire. His more recent research efforts concentrated on studies of ionospheric signatures of magnetospheric boundaries, the dynamics of the night side auroral region, equatorial electrodynamics, models for space weather predictions, and the large scale dynamics of solar wind coupling to the magnetosphere. Dr. Maynard’s esteemed career included more than 200 published articles in scientific journals and books, and he was recognized worldwide for his expertise in space electrodynamics.
Nelson was a kind, compassionate and gentle man who consistently was able to see the good in everyone and everything. He was generous with his time and always ready to help people. He spent his life doing the things he enjoyed with his wife, the love of his life. He had a great sense of humor, and, with a twinkle in his eye, he loved to make jokes. He lived in harmony with nature, enjoying many outdoor activities including hiking, fishing, and cross country skiing. Island living on Lake Winnipesaukee was a big part of every summer from his early childhood to his later years. He loved carpentry, and his woodworking skills continue to be admired in the houses he built and the family heirloom furniture he created. He also had a passion for music, beginning with his days playing the trombone for his high school and university marching bands, to regular participation in church choirs throughout his life. He had a strong faith and served as an Elder for several congregations, helping many people to hear and feel God’s grace. Nelson will be profoundly missed by his family, friends, and all who knew him.
A service in celebration of his life will be held at the East Craftsbury Presbyterian Church in East Craftsbury, VT on Sunday, November 19 at 2pm. For those who desire, memorial contributions in Nelson’s name may be made to the East Craftsbury Presbyterian Church, 1097 Ketchum Hill Road, Craftsbury, VT 05826 or to the Parkinson's Foundation, 200 SE 1st Street, Suite 800, Miami, FL 33131. Arrangements are entrusted to the care of Curtis-Britch-Davis & Bouffard Funeral Home, Craftsbury Common, VT. Online condolences may be made at curtis-britch.com.
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