Charles H. Pyne, Ph.D., of East Sandwich died on October 18, 2012. Born and raised in Brockton, MA, he was the youngest of three children born to J. Francis and Elizabeth (O’Brien) Pyne in 1929. After graduating from Brockton Public High School in 1947, he attended the University of Rhode Island, where he earned a B.S. and completed the Army Advance ROTC program. He was sent to Korea in 1951 at the rank of First Lieutenant and was awarded the Korean Service Medal with two bronze stars and the United Nations Service Medal.
He went on to earn his M.A. in Food Science from Cornell University and his Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Food Science from the University of Minnesota. He met his wife, Kathleen Ruane, while at Cornell. They were married in 1956, had three children (Christopher, Shannon, and Tricia), and remained together until her death in 2005.
Over the course of his career he worked at several companies, including Mead Johnson & Company and H. P. Hood, where he was responsible for the development and reformulation of many food products, including Enfamil and the Beneflex system, Metrecal, Sustagen, ultra-pasteurized dairy products, natural alternatives to artificial flavors and preservatives, and different styles of yogurt (Swiss and frozen). After retiring in 1988, he consulted for ten years, which took him around the world.
When not in the laboratory, he enjoyed being in his workshop, building furniture and planning home improvement projects. After moving to Cape Cod in 1989, he took up bird carving and playing bridge. He remained a lifelong student and loved his golden retrievers.
He will be remembered by his children for the unconditional love and support he gave them over their lives. He is survived by his three children, two siblings, James and Marion Pyne, 8 nieces and nephews and their families. Visitation is 10:30-11:30 a.m. Saturday, October 27, at Corpus Christi Church (www.corpuschristiparish.org), 324 Quaker Meeting House Road, East Sandwich. A funeral Mass will be held immediately after at 11:30 a.m. Burial will follow at Sandwich Town Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (MSPCA).
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