Obituary: Theodore Joseph Morin Jr., Physicist at NASA, Founder of Industrial Magnetics, Inc.

Obituary from Hallett Funeral Home: 

Theodore Joseph Morin Jr., 82, formerly of Needham, died Nov. 18, 2013. 

Theodore was born on March 22, 1931, in Worcester, Massachusetts to Leona and Theodore Morin. He was husband for 59 years to his high school sweetheart Helen.

Mr. Morin graduated from Worcester’s Classical High School in 1950, and in 1951 enlisted in the United States Army, serving in the 11th Airborne Division until 1954. He earned a bachelor's degree in physics from Northeastern University in 1959, a master's degree in physics from the College of William & Mary in 1961, a Certificate of Magnetohydrodynamics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1961, and a master of business administration from the University of Connecticut in 1980.

Mr. Morin worked as a physicist from 1959-1961 at NASA, Langley Field, Virginia, and as an engineering research associate at Northeastern from 1961-1967. He taught physics and electrical engineering at Northeastern and established the University’s plasma physics facility. He was the author of five patents in magnetic welding and forming, two in ultrasonic soldering, and some thirty articles and publications on related subjects.

Co-inventor of the solid-state hydrodynamic welding process, Mr. Morin founded the firm of Industrial Magnetics, Inc., which later became Thermo Magnetics and merged with Thermatool Corporation in 1974. Mr. Morin joined Thermatool as a Product Manager and soon became its President. Under his leadership, Thermatool grew from under $6 million to over $80 million in annual sales. 
Mr. Morin was also a member of the International Tube Association, a member of the Steel Tube Institute, and a director of the Fabricators and Manufacturers Association, and served as chairman of the Board of the FMA in 2002.

Mr. Morin led a rich and full life. His adventures outside the business world included climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro, driving across the country with his family, and blue-fishing off Nantucket. He was an avid student of history throughout his life. He traveled extensively in Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas. 

In addition to his wife, Mr. Morin is survived by his brother Lee of Worcester; his sons Theodore, Peter, Thomas, John and Andrew; his daughter Elizabeth; and his 17 grandchildren. Mr. Morin was predeceased by his brother David.

Interment in Massachusetts National Cemetery, Bourne. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Wounded Warriors Project in memory of Theodore Joseph Morin Jr.