CUSHING – Dudley Willis “Dud” Rockwell, 93, died peacefully Oct. 1, 2006, surrounded by the people he loved, at his home. Dud was born June 20, 1913, in New Britain, Conn., son of Ruth Gowdy Rockwell and Stanley Pickett Rockwell. His father invented the Rockwell Hardness Tester, used throughout the world as the standard for testing the hardness of metals. His father was the recipient of the Albert Sauveur Medal. Dudley attended the Kingswood School, West Hartford, Conn.; Milford Preparatory School, Milford, Conn.; and graduated from Yale University Sheffield Scientific School in 1935 with a Bachelor of Science degree. While at Yale, he was a member of St. Elmo. In 1959, Dud was elected president of the Stanley P. Rockwell Co., Hartford, Conn., a position he held until retiring in 1974. He was the chairman of the Hartford Chapter of the American Society of Metals from 1963 to 1964. Dudley also served as the national president of the Metal Treaters Institute from 1967 to 1968. During his career as a metallurgist, he served on the ASM National Committee, was a popular lecturer and authored numerous articles on heat-treating. Dudley also held membership in the American Society of Tool Engineers, American Ordnance Association and was on the National Roster of Scientific and Specialized Personnel. He was a charter member of the Peabody Museum Maritime Association, a member of the Wyllis Lodge, AF & FM and Sphinx Temple and a lifetime member of the Farnsworth Museum. Upon retirement to Cushing, Dudley began a second career as a volunteer dispatcher for the Cushing Fire Department, trainer in first aid, two term president of the Cushing Historical Society and a docent for the Farnsworth Museum, Rockland. Dudley’s life was full of energy, curiosity and a genuine caring for other people. He became something of a celebrity and local icon over the past 11 years by giving interesting, personalized presentations to thousands of visitors to the nearby Olson House. For his many years of service to the community, whether as chairman of the Red Cross Disaster Committee, or helping raise funds to build the new Cushing firehouse in 1978. Dud was honored in 2003 by TV Channel 6 as one of the station’s annual “6 Who Care” recipients. Dudley’s personal life was enriched by many family activities from boating trips in Muscongus Bay, weekend ski trips when everyone was younger and a summer long family camping trip to Alaska in 1955. His search for adventure took him through many different experiences such as outboard racing in the 1930s, extensive travel in Europe, the South Pacific and a cross country flight in a two seat airplane. His exceptional carpentry and fine woodworking skills produced many heirlooms for the family. Dud enjoyed playing the bass fiddle in various Dixieland bands and often enjoyed jam sessions at the Samoset Resort. A great communicator and storyteller, a tireless worker with high standards and a terrific sense of humor, Dudley was a marvel to all who knew him. His spirit and generosity reached far beyond the place he called home. Truly a man for all seasons, Dud will be missed by all those he touched during his long and wonderful life. Dudley is survived by his wife of almost 70 years, Louise James Rockwell; his sister, Marianna Rockwell of Thomaston; a son, David and his wife, Bonnie, of Suffield, Conn., and their children, Jennifer, Geoff, Jed and Hillary; daughters, Betsy Bartholomew and her husband, Mark, of Seward, Alaska, and her children, John and Jim, Merle Rockwell and her husband, Ed Modell, of Silver Spring, Md., and her children, Andy, Stephanie and Matt and Joan Rockwell and her partner, Bill Austin, of Colrain, Mass., and her children, Pia and Nick and 12 great-grandchildren. A celebration of Dud’s life will be held 1 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 4, at the Olson House, Cushing. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in the name of Dudley W. Rockwell, Cushing Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 20, Cushing, ME 04563.
DUDLEY WILLIS ‘DUD’ ROCKWELL
