Ralph Kodis; saw beauty in the laws of physics; at 90

During his tour of the Pacific during World War II, Ralph D. Kodis traveled with a constant companion: "Introduction to Theoretical Physics."

"On every cruise and in every camp, from Fiji, to Espiritu Santo to Guadalcanal, to Kwajalein, to Okinawa, and back home to Portland, that book was in his bag," his son Martin, of Washington, D.C., said during his father's eulogy.

That dedication to physics blossomed into a rich career for Mr. Kodis, who went on to become a member of the Apollo space program, a noted researcher, a college teacher, and, in retirement, a high school tutor. Mr. Kodis, of Newton, died at home Oct. 4 of cancer. He was 90.

Born and reared in Portland, Maine, Mr. Kodis graduated from high school when he was 15. He attended Northeastern University, earning a degree in electric engineering in 1940, and upon graduation he took a fellowship in physics at Northeastern.

Mr. Kodis enlisted in the Navy in 1941 and was part of the mine-warfare program. He traveled from island to island, and, according to his son, "worked on the protective mining of harbors." Mr. Kodis attained the rank of lieutenant commander.

After the war he earned master's and doctorate degrees at Harvard University, and won a National Science Foundation postdoctoral fellowship at Cambridge University and a Guggenheim Fellowship at Oxford University.

"I think he saw great beauty in the laws of physics, and in the use of the language of mathematics to describe those laws," his son said.

Mr. Kodis taught at Harvard University and Brown University from 1950 to 1963. He then joined the MIT Lincoln Laboratory, where he worked on ballistic-missile technology.

From 1966 to 1970, Mr. Kodis was a member of the Apollo space program, working as chief of the microwave-propagation branch at NASA's Electronics Research Center in Cambridge. His specialty: the communication system connecting spaceships to Earth. During the Apollo 11 mission, astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first men to walk on the moon in 1969.

"When we were little, he had these movies from NASA of the moon landing. He got a projection and screen and played the movies for the neighborhood kids," his son said.

After NASA closed in Cambridge, Mr. Kodis moved to the Department of Transportation as branch chief in the electromagnetic technology division. In his new post, Mr. Kodis worked on numerous safety projects, including criteria for safe landing of commercial airplanes and an effort by the Coast Guard to combat drug smuggling. He retired in 1988.

During his retirement, Mr. Kodis tutored students in math and physics at Cambridge Rindge and Latin School for 15 years.

The school recognized his service with the Mack Davis Award, given to longtime volunteers.

Mr. Kodis also had a passion for music, which ultimately led him to his wife, Christine (Dieze). They met in 1963 when they were both members of the MIT Choral Society and where married in 1965.

"He encouraged me to play an instrument," she said. "He encouraged me to take lessons, and I learned how to play the flute. We used to play duets on his harpsichord and my flute."

Throughout their marriage, Mr. Kodis and his wife often attended concerts and particularly enjoyed chamber music. He encouraged his children to appreciate music, and all of their children play an instrument, Christine said.

Mr. Kodis also enjoyed wine and food, inspired by his travels in Europe.

"After graduate school he toured France," his wife said. "He ate and dined his way through the four-star restaurants through France."

Mr. Kodis also became a wine connoisseur, said his son Martin. "He would break out a good bottle a few times a year. He broke out a 1949 Chateau d'Yquem. It was the last bottle he opened, and he opened it on his 90th birthday."

In addition to his wife and son, Mr. Kodis leaves another son, Andreas of Vancouver; two daughters, Nina Porter of Windham, N.Y., and Rebecca of Londonderry, Vt; a sister, Muriel Branz, and a brother Milton, both of Portland, Maine; and seven grandchildren.

Services have been held.