Remembering Carl Henry Brans (1935–2026)

We are saddened to share the news of the death of Professor Emeritus Carl Henry Brans, who passed away on February 26, 2026, at the age of 90. A distinguished theoretical physicist and longtime member of the faculty, Dr. Brans devoted most of his career to Loyola University New Orleans, where he served as the J.C. Carter Professor of Theoretical Physics before being named Emeritus Professor. He earned his Ph.D. from Princeton University in 1961 under the direction of Charles Misner and Robert H. Dicke. His doctoral research led to the development of the Brans-Dicke scalar-tensor theory of gravity, an influential extension of Einstein’s general relativity that continues to shape work in theoretical physics and cosmology.  

Colleagues and former students remember Dr. Brans as a thoughtful scholar and generous mentor. Beyond his academic achievements, he was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, as well as a passionate amateur pianist and enthusiastic tennis player. Those who knew him personally recall not only his intellectual seriousness, but also his warmth, humor, and deep commitment to family. His scientific legacy endures in ongoing conversations about gravity and cosmology, and his personal legacy lives on in the many lives he touched.  

A memorial reception will be held on Monday, March 9, from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM at the Chalstrom House, 1111 S. Carrollton Ave., in New Orleans.