Leo Baggerly

Leo Baggerly passed away on March 8, 2024 in his home in Encinitas at the age of 95.

A husband, father, grandfather, physicist, researcher, professor, and storyteller, Leo spent a lifetime being curious about the world and sharing his discoveries with others.

His academic life started at Kansas City Junior College, but an “invitation” after his 18th birthday led to him enlisting in the navy where he spent time at Naval Training Station in San Diego and electronics school at Treasure Island in San Francisco. Following two years in the navy, he went on to CalTech where he earned his BA in physics 1952 and PhD in 1956. He also participated in a life-changing CalTechY program which took students to meet with President Truman to discuss ‘Peace’. Upon returning, Leo and the group went to the Orange Grove Friends Meeting where Leo saw non-violence in a group of Quakers. He was dedicated throughout his life to bringing Peace and non-violence to all groups and activities—from his teaching through his role as a father to a world of storytelling. His friendship with the CalTechY was also ongoing.

After graduation he was interested in teaching overseas and applied to the Fulbright Program and was selected for the University of Ceylon in Colombo where he taught mathematical methods in physics and introductory physics for three years. After his time in Ceylon (Sri Lanka) he joined the growing physics department at Texas Christian University where he was awarded the “John Roach Physics Professor of the Year” in 1961. After 10 years at TCU Leo moved on to positions with the National Science Foundation, Cornell University, Cal State Bakersfield, Pomona College and Harvey Mudd College. He spent the next 15 years of his career outside of academics at TRW in the ballistic missile division working on the meteor burst communication system‍

Upon retirement, Leo took on the role of “storyteller” participating with storytelling groups around the world, including locally as a docent – giving tours and telling stories – for the San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve, and acting in UCSD’s Theatre World.

In 2008, he joined his wife, Carole, as they learned that vitamin D deficiency was a key factor in the development of breast and other cancers. They traveled together across the US and Canada to meet with vitamin D researchers and eventually establish GrassrootsHealth Research Institute. While still officially “retired”, Leo was active with the research and was a co-author on several published papers. He continued his use of his own situation with aging by helping define and implement the new Tools of Living organization to include information about grab-bars, rollators, seated exercises for the elderly, and the ongoing focus on vitamin D. Throughout the years, Leo remained in contact with several of his former students and colleagues.

At any moment Leo could wander into a tale about growing up with his brother and cousins and uncles in Kansas, or his time in the navy, or recite a poem by Ogden Nash; he could just as easily explain concepts of physics, decay rates of radioactive isotopes, or the half-life of various forms of vitamin D. He loved puzzles of all sorts, from standard crosswords and sudokus to whatever he came across that was new and “puzzling.”

Leo will be deeply missed by his wife of 58 years, Carole, his children Philip Baggerly, Jennifer (Beth) Baggerly, Keith (Sarah) Baggerly, Derek (Julia) Baggerly, and Christine (Ross) French, and grandchildren Susanna, Thomas, Zoey, Alyssa, and Katelyn.

A Celebration of Life was held to share joys and stories about Leo.

Saturday, April 20, 2024 at 2:00 pm

La Jolla Friends Meeting
7380 Eads Avenue
La Jolla, CA 92037.

(Participation via Zoom was made available for those unable to attend in person)

“Immortality (Do Not Stand By My Grave and Weep)” by Clare Harner

Do not stand
By my grave, and weep.
I am not there,
I do not sleep–
I am the thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glints in snow.
I am the sunlight on the ripened grain,
I am the gentle, autumn rain.
As you awake with morning’s hush,
I am the swift, up-flinging rush
Of quiet birds in circling flight,
I am the day transcending night.
Do not stand
By my grave, and cry–
I am not there,
I did not die.