Marvin Delford Pope of Acton, Massachusetts, passed away peacefully at home on Friday, January 9, 2026, at the age of 93.
Marvin was born in 1932 in Hill City, Minnesota, during the Great Depression. The son of Kenneth Frances Pope and Azalba Merle Stengel Pope, he grew up in a hardworking, close-knit family that valued education, self-reliance, and integrity — values that shaped the course of his life. His parents eventually settled in Waukesha, Wisconsin, where Marvin spent much of his youth, but he spent most of his adult life in Acton, Massachusetts with his wife and family.
A gifted student, Marvin graduated from Waukesha High School in 1950 and attended Carroll College and Illinois Institute of Technology on a 5-year joint degree program, graduating with degrees from both in 1955. Encouraged by his father-in-law to continue his education, Marvin went on to earn a master’s degree, a decision he often credited as pivotal to his lifelong career as an engineer and researcher.
While at Carroll College, Marvin met the love of his life, Carol Conte (daughter of George Conte and Adelyn Biermann), whom he invited fishing on one of their first dates. In 1954, the two were married and spent the next 71 years building a life together marked by deep partnership, shared adventure, and devotion to family. Together they raised four children, whom they imbued with a love of curiosity, travel, and the outdoors, especially fishing, which remained a lifelong passion for the entire family.
Marvin spent eight years with Aerojet-General Corporation in Southern California, where his mother-in-law saw a notice for a one-year training experience at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and prepared Marvin’s application for him. He was selected and went to Lincoln Laboratories in 1966, leading to his recruitment for a full-time position and thus spending over 30 years working at MIT. His research contributed to landmark advances in aerospace engineering, including satellites and rockets, national defense, radar systems, and early solar energy development. Known for his intellect, humility, and curiosity beyond formal boundaries, Marvin valued learning for its own sake and held deep respect for excellence, collaboration, and ethical responsibility in science.
Marvin was an avid reader, often enjoying three to four books at one time. He was also a great outdoorsman, spending much of his free time in the woods, near the rivers, or on the water. The family has fond memories of fishing with him on Mashpee Lake, Cape Cod, and at their camp on Sunset Lake in New Hampshire. Marvin and Carol’s ocean fishing adventures spanned from catching bluefish and fluke on the Atlantic to halibut in Alaska. The two also enjoyed square dancing together, singing in choirs, and playing cards, with both of them becoming Bridge Life Masters. Notably, they were famous for finishing each other’s crossword puzzles, with each completing exactly half of the puzzle before handing it over to the other. They also loved camping together, from the desert to the High Sierras, and more than once, the two of them hitched a camper to his truck and toured the USA. As part of their adventures, Marvin and Carol spent much of their time in the woods or in the garden collecting food they later prepared together in their kitchen, including delicious pies, where Carol made the pastry while Marvin prepared the filling.
Marvin lived life to the fullest and had a great appreciation for nature and love for New England. Although he bemoaned every single snowstorm in the winter, he scoffed at any ideas of escaping winter down south, but he and Carol did use their hot tub daily. Marvin spent much of his retirement years between Acton and their camp at Sunset Lake. He taught generations of the Pope family how to play cribbage, how to make CCQ (chili con queso), how to fish in the lake, and how to be a respectful hunter. He organized many a hunt, which gave him great joy to recall, especially since he had built some of the rifles himself, utilizing his talents with tools and engineering skills for ballistics and reloading. In light of this, he took many kids and grandkids exploring in the forest, usually packing fried egg and spam sandwiches for lunch.
Marvin was not afraid to speak his mind, pretty much on anything, yet could converse with anyone despite any differences, oftentimes sharing those observations in emails, at least weekly, if not daily. His writing was entertaining, informative, and deeply personal, often humble at times. And every dog that visited him was spoiled with snacks, before Marvin would even greet their human owners. He often reflected with gratitude on a life well lived and hoped above all that future generations would find happiness, purpose, and kindness as he did.
Marvin’s legacy lives on through the love of reading, fishing, and spicy food that he passed on to his family.
Marvin was predeceased by his parents, Kenneth and Azalba, his brother Mickey, his sisters Myrna and Linda, his daughter Susan, and his grandson Hunter. He is survived by his wife, Carol, his sisters Joan and Gretchen and his brother David (Myrna); his children MaryBeth (Guy), Kenneth (Tess), and Eugene (Stacie). He is also survived by eight grandchildren, Katelyn (Geoff), Naomi (Nick), Shannon (TJ), Brendan, Noah (Mariah), Connor (Tess), Ramsay (Jacquelyn), Molly (Kayla); and eight great-grandchildren, Emory and Grace, Lilah and Ezra, Winston and Lincoln, and Norah and Ari.
There will be a private burial for the family, and a celebration of life will be planned for the summer of 2026.
