Kenneth Laws

May 30, 1935 - June 2, 2021

Kenneth Lee Laws, 86, died at his home in Carlisle, Pennsylvania from complications related to Parkinson's disease.

Ken was born in Pasadena and after high school he studied physics, receiving a Bachelor's degree from the California Institute of Technology, a Master's degree from the University of Pennsylvania, and a Ph.D. from Bryn Mawr College. In 1965, he married Priscilla Watson, a fellow graduate student at Bryn Mawr. Ken spent his career teaching in the Physics department at Dickinson College.

When his children began ballet classes, Ken became involved with the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet. He took classes, performed, taught, and served on the board. He authored several books on the physics of ballet and lectured on the topic in the US and internationally.

He was also an accomplished improvisational musician who played piano, guitar, and drums and always enjoyed making live music with his friends and family. Ken was also a long-time member of the Unitarian Universalists of the Cumberland Valley, a community he treasured.

He is survived by his wife, Priscilla, his older sister Bonnie Laws Smith-Smiley '49, and his two children Kevin Laws and Virginia Laws Jackson.

Carlisle Sentinel, June 14, 2021