Clifford Klick; Key Physicist at Naval Research Lab

Clifford Coover Klick, 88, a top scientist in the materials sciences division of the Naval Research Laboratory, died Oct. 9 at Fairhaven continuing care retirement community in Sykesville. He had myelodysplasia, a bone marrow disorder.

Dr. Klick, a physicist, worked for the lab for almost 30 years. He was an expert in luminescence in solids, writing an influential review in Solid State Physics in 1957. He was appointed head of the lab's optical materials branch in 1965 and served as superintendent of the solid state division from 1968 to 1977, directing the work of about 100 scientists.

In 1973, Dr. Klick became acting associate director of research for materials and general sciences. For the year preceding his retirement in 1978, he worked in the liaison bureau of the Office of Naval Research in London, visiting European labs and attending conferences.

He was born in Strausstown, Pa., and attended Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pa., majoring in physics and graduating first in his class of 1939. The year after graduation, he taught physics at his alma mater.

In 1941, Dr. Klick began graduate studies in physics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, he joined the effort to develop the radio proximity fuse for artillery shells, an effort centered at Johns Hopkins University. His work led to an assignment with the U.S. 7th Army in Europe looking for evidence of German jammers. He also participated in the ALSOS mission, interviewing captured German scientists about weapons developments.

After the war, Dr. Klick received a master's degree in physics from Harvard University in 1946. He was a Westinghouse research fellow in the new field of solid state physics at the Carnegie Institute of Technology, where he received a doctor of science degree in 1949.

Dr. Klick was elected a fellow of the American Physical Society in 1955. He received numerous awards during his career: a Department of the Navy Award in 1960, three outstanding performance awards from the NRL, the Pure Science Award from NRL's chapter of the Scientific Research Society of America in 1960 and the Navy Superior Civilian Service Award in 1973. He published 53 papers and was a visiting staff member at London's Imperial College.

Upon retirement, he volunteered on the D.C. board on energy use and tutored students in math at Woodrow Wilson High School. He frequently attended plays and classical music concerts and with his wife sang in church choirs for several decades. At Fairhaven they also were in a play-reading group. They enjoyed traveling the world, particularly to visit their family. He lived in Washington for 57 years.

Survivors include his wife of 59 years, Ruth Cleverly Klick of Sykesville; six children, John Klick of Washington, Ruth Rudberg of Ludvika, Sweden, David Klick of Chelmsford, Mass., Susan Klick of Mechanicsburg, Pa., James Klick of Mandeville, La., and Karen Frye of Leesburg; 17 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.