Dr. Theron Joseph Bennett

October 5, 1943 - December 8, 2021

Theron Joseph was born on October 5, 1943 in Cincinnati, OH to Theron Francis and Stella Marie (Niehaus) Bennett.  An only child, he dreamed of being a truck driver while performing his altar boy duties, playing on the railroad tracks, and hanging out in the Newport, KY bars with his dad.  Despite his dream, he earned his Bachelor of Science in Physics at Xavier University in 1965.  He earned his Doctorate in Geophysics at Saint Louis University in 1971.

After a brief stint in Houston, TX Joe began work in Las Vegas, NV with the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) which later became the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).  Joe met and dated his wife Irene (Buerman) Bennett in the entertainment capital, often seeing shows and camping in the surrounding desert mountains.  They were married in Richmond, MN in 1974 and followed Joe's career to northern Virginia, residing in Reston, Herndon, and finally Leesburg.

Joe's work with the NRC included providing scientific analysis to assist in the regulation of the burgeoning nuclear power industry.  He found a second home at S-Cubed, a division of Maxwell Technologies, which was later acquired by SAIC/ Leidos where Joe was a Senior Scientist providing consultation to the government using seismology to monitor the testing of nuclear weapons in foreign countries.  Later his work included large earthquake preparedness analysis.  Joe received numerous accolades for his research, authoring and co-authoring many publications in the bulletins of the Seismological Society of America.  He was an active officer for the Potomac Geophysical Society and made many lifelong friends during his professional career.

Joe rarely discussed work at the dinner table with his wife and three girls, Joan (1975), Anne (1977), and Susan (1979).  His evenings were spent helping his girls with their homework, attending their softball games, band and choir concerts, and art shows.  He and Irene loved to travel, checking many National Parks off their bucket list, the obligatory family trip to Disney World, a celebratory cruise around the Caribbean, but most often to see family and friends, frequently visiting Irene's side in Minnesota and his grandchildren in South Carolina.

Joe was a man of many skills and interests.  He could parallel park a van in the tightest of DC spaces, perform a variety of household repairs, build wood cornhole boards, and keep a lawn mowed and weed free (mostly!).  He loved photography, hiking, biking, card games, folk/bluegrass music, Xavier basketball, wineries and breweries, emojis, and the movie Groundhog Day.... and the movie Groundhog Day. (Dad joke!)

Joe provided his family with a wonderful life.  They will miss his knowledge, advice, humor, hugs and kisses.  He is survived by his wife Irene; children: Joan of Warrenton, VA (partner of Adam Shellenberger), Anne of Summerville, SC (wife of John White), and Susan of Leesburg, VA (wife of Brian Keefer); and four grandchildren: Nathan, Norah, and Zoey White, and Alice Keefer.

A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.  In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Prostate Cancer Foundation.