Charles Kaman
1919–2011 (age 92)
Aerospace engineer and industrialist
Biography
Charles Kaman, an aerospace engineer and industrialist, founded Kaman Aircraft in 1945 and became known for pioneering intermeshing rotor systems and the use of composite materials in rotorcraft, innovations that helped broaden the possibilities of vertical flight. His company grew to embrace other technologies, yet he always championed meticulous engineering and the joy of creative problem-solving.
Beyond aviation, Charles supported music education through the Kaman Music Corporation and invested in engineering scholarships, believing firmly that industry and the arts thrive when they nurture one another. He rests at Fairview Cemetery, leaving behind a legacy of ingenuity, civic generosity, and personal warmth.