Humphrey John Maris

Professor Humphrey John Maris, 86, of Barrington, Rhode Island, passed away peacefully on July 28, 2025, from complications of Parkinson’s Disease. Born in Ipswich, England, to the late John and Nora (Rudderham) Maris, he spent his youth in England. During WWII the family moved from the city to the countryside to escape bomb and gas attacks. For the first seven years of his life, while his father served as a soldier, Humphrey lived with his mother, grandmother, and sister in the small village of West Bergholt. He continued his education in England, attending Imperial College, London, where he received a Ph.D. in physics at the age of 24. He then moved to the United States. After two years as a postdoctoral research associate at Case Institute of Technology in Cleveland. Humphrey joined the physics faculty at Brown University, where he remained until his retirement in 2014. He spearheaded numerous experiments investigating the quantum state of electrons, significantly advancing our understanding of quantum mechanics. He received many awards, including the prestigious Fritz London Memorial Prize for his work in low-temperature physics. As Professor Emeritus, in 2023, he received Brown’s Impact Award for being the most successful inventor in Brown University history, with his testing technology having become the standard for quality control and manufacturing by computer chip companies worldwide. While physics was Humphrey’s passion, he had many other interests. He maintained relationships with his students, many of whom he continued to befriend and mentor. He travelled extensively, both for work and for pleasure with his wife Faye and with his two daughters. As an avid gardener and chicken keeper, he brought gifts of flowers, asparagus, and eggs to friends and neighbors. With his keen sense of humor, he brought the gift of laughter to all who knew him. Humphrey’s workshop was always filled with projects. He built furniture, bookcases, cabinets, beds, a sauna, a bunkhouse for his daughters, a tool shed, and a chicken coop for his chickens. A lover of exercise, he liked swimming, walking, hiking, and lifting weights. He continued his routine of 20+ push-ups until the day he was hospitalized. He loved all animals, particularly his chickens; he raised them from baby chicks and gave each one a name. His last chicken, Dolores, died at the age of 14. He is survived by Faye, his wife of 56 years, his daughters Jillian and Lillian, his sister Gillian Cotton, and his nephews David and Stephen Cotton. A memorial service will be held at a later date.