Harry was born in Brooklyn, New York, and grew up as an avid fan of the Brooklyn Dodgers. He grew up in the Richmond Hill area of Queens, where he met the love of his life, Sandra Vought. He graduated from the University of Rochester with a degree in physics, attending there on a Bausch and Lomb science scholarship. Harry and Sandy were married in June of 1958 at the Congregational Church in Richmond Hill.
He completed his Ph.D. in Physics at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, in 1962, completing his degree in five years at a time when it usually would take eight to ten years. He moved to Sudbury, Massachusetts, in 1962 to start his career in research and quickly became a fan of the Boston Red Sox and the Boston Bruins. He enjoyed camping, canoeing, and sailing his small Sunfish sailboat for many years.
He worked for over twenty years at the Sperry Research Center in Sudbury, Massachusetts, and became internationally known for his research in the field of superconductivity.
He was active with the Sudbury United Methodist Church, as well as with the Boy Scouts, serving as the Scoutmaster for Sudbury Troop 60 for several years in the late 1970s.
A career change in 1983, led to the family moving to Austin, Texas. In 1992, he moved to Binghamton, New York, where he became the Bartle Professor of Electrical Engineering at Binghamton University. He was a Life Fellow of the IEEE (Institute of Electronic and Electrical Engineers).
He and Sandy retired to Venice, Florida, where they enjoyed the warmth and sunshine and being close to their long time friends, Janet and Dave Davidson, who had previously retired nearby. Harry and Sandy were involved with the Venice Presbyterian Church through their work in the Stephen Ministry. as well as volunteering for Habitat for Humanity. After several years, they moved back to Austin, Texas, in order to be closer to family again.
He enjoyed traveling with his wife, Sandy, with some of his favorite destinations being Alaska, Hawaii, Japan, and Europe.
He is survived by his son Charles and daughter-in-law Sara Kroger of St. Paul, Minnesota; son John and daughter-in-law Christina Kroger of Peru, Maine; and daughter Carolyn and son-in-law Jim Estes of Austin, Texas.
He leaves behind his cherished grandchildren and great grandchildren: Alyssa Estes of Austin, Texas; Mara and husband John Osowiecki, and their daughter Clara of Auburn, Maine; Brennan Kroger of Peru, Maine; Jesse Kroger and wife Victoria of Andover, Massachusetts; Matthias Kroger and wife Pauline and their daughter Eleanor of Aubrey, Texas; Gabriella Kroger of Peru, Maine; Stefan Kroger of Bangor, Maine; PFC Othniel Kroger, Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Nicholas Kroger of Peru, Maine; and Christoph Kroger of Peru, Maine.
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