Edward "Ted" F. Kurtz, Jr., 96 of Dartmouth died June 28, 2025.

Born in Schenectady, NY, Ted Kurtz was the son of Edward F. and Marion E. Kurtz. He grew up in Attleboro, MA, and later lived in Concord and Northampton, MA, as well as Kingston, Ontario. He and his wife Nancy shared 59 years of marriage.

Ted received his B.S. from Stanford University, followed by his Masters and PhD degrees from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in mechanical engineering. He contributed to the design of the Navajo missile, and took part in Operation Teapot, a series of nuclear test explosions in the Nevada desert. In the 1960's he helped design and build Titleist's first wind tunnel in an effort to optimize the design of their golf balls.

Ted taught at M.I.T. and later was a professor of mechanical engineering Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario. After leaving Queen's in 1979, he turned his attention to personal computing, writing flight simulator programs that he and Nancy marketed from their home in Northampton.

Ted and Nancy retired to Dartmouth in 2001, where he enjoyed sailing in Buzzards Bay, volunteering with the Buzzards Bay Regatta, and participating for several years in cruises with the New Bedford Yacht Club. He was an early member of the Wharf Rats. After retiring from sailing, Ted continued to pursue his passion for learning by building small robots and later designing and flying model airplanes. Teaching and discovery were lifelong joys.

He is survived by his wife Nancy; daughters Sandra Brown and her husband Darin of Madison, NH, and Pamela Kurtz of Daniel Island, SC; son David and his wife Kristen of Winchester, MA; sister Ellen White of Falmouth; six grandchildren-Alexander, Nicholas, and Melissa Brown; Mia, Peter, and Arianna Kurtz-and three nephews: Steven, Jeffrey, and Gregory White.

A memorial service will be held in the early fall. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to the African American Achievement Scholarship Fund at the Community Foundation of Western MA, 333 Bridge Street, Springfield, MA 01103; or to the Women's Fund SouthCoast, 628 Pleasant Street, Suite 322, New Bedford, MA 02740.