Richard G. Broden, a retired Westinghouse Electric Corp. electrical engineer whose 42-year career extended from the Manhattan Project to AWACS surveillance aircraft, died of cancer Thursday at his Ellicott City home. He was 83.
Mr. Broden was born and raised in Edgewood, Pa., a suburb of Pittsburgh. He earned a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering in 1942 from Carnegie Tech, now Carnegie Mellon University.
He had been working for three months at Pittsburgh Research Laboratories after graduation when he was recruited by the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories in Livermore, Calif. He was assigned to the Manhattan Project -- development of the atomic bomb.
In 1945, he moved to Baltimore and joined Westinghouse. He worked in the company's Butler Building in downtown Baltimore and Wilkens Avenue facilities before relocating to the Linthicum plant. Most of his career was spent working on surface radar, the AWACS (airborne warning and control systems), and Block 5 Satellite Program.
"People would ask me what my husband did, and I'd have to answer that most of his work was of a classified nature," said his wife of 58 years, the former Elizabeth Ann Heinitsh.
Mr. Broden retired in 1984.
He enjoyed spending summers at a second home in Bethany Beach, Del., where he fished aboard his boat Julie Ann.
He was a member of the Society of Professional Engineers, National Rifle Association and Westinghouse Gun Club.
Mr. Broden attended St. John's Episcopal Church, 9120 Frederick Road, where services will be held at 10 a.m. today.
In addition to his wife, survivors include two sons, Richard G. Broden of Ellicott City and Christopher W. Broden of Westminster; a daughter, Nancy L. Warner of Arbutus; a brother, Willard C. Broden of Bradenton, Fla.; three granddaughters; and two great-grandchildren.
