Dr. Kenneth James Rothwell died peacefully on February 19, 2020, in White River Junction, Vermont, surrounded by his loving family. Born in Perth, Western Australia on October 13, 1923, he was proud of his home country and retained Australian citizenship his entire life. Professor Emeritus of International Economics, Ken taught at the Whittemore School of Business at the University of New Hampshire for 30 years and was an advisor for the United Nations Development Program. He was ahead of his time in his commitment to the advancement of international education worldwide, crossing disciplines and backgrounds to achieve broader global understanding through academics. When not travelling or giving lectures, Ken tackled numerous projects at the farmstead in Lee, New Hampshire where he lived with his wife of 68 years, Alida Eidner.

At the age of 19, Ken joined the Royal Australian Air Force. Ken then served as pilot in the Pathfinder Force of the Bomber Command in World War II, flying with allied England in New Zealand and Royal Air Force bombing raids over Germany and France and Manna hunger relief and Exodus POW rescue missions. In his war memoir: 'From my departure from Perth in those hazy days it seems my intellectual life as an internationalist really began...first time out of WA and from then on it seemed that I never stopped traveling or thinking beyond the local scene.' His early training took him all over Australia, the UK and the USA.

Ken studied at the University of Western Australia and worked at the Commonwealth Bank in Sydney. He took leave to study in Sweden where he met his wife Alida Eidner. After their wedding in London, the newlyweds went to Sydney where they spent several years before coming to the US to further their studies at Harvard. Ken wrote his PhD dissertation on Foreign Investments and Global Trade. Early teaching appointments were at Bucknell and Dartmouth College before tenure at UNH, specializing in Pacific Basin political economy, and administration in developing countries. Through the years, he worked on Inter-American Development Bank missions and advised United Nations projects in Indonesia, Ethiopia, Korea, Ecuador, and Iran - travels and living experiences which often included the family during sabbatical years. He held visiting professorships in Holland, Sweden, Chile and Western Australia, and headed study programs in France and Sri Lanka.

Ken shared his love of brilliantly red geraniums with everyone who passed by the old tollhouse windows on Newcastle Avenue in Portsmouth where he and Alida spent several decades restoring and renovating the historic landmark from the ground to the rooftop, turning it into a beautiful property on the water. After retiring from teaching, he took to the skies once again and reclaimed his pilot license. Subsequent travels around the world with Alida frequently included a flight out of some small airport to see the terrain from a rented plane's cockpit. Many winters were spent at Miami Beach, where Ken was elected and served as the first President of the Condominium Association where they lived - an international conglomerate of 680 owners and investors. He enjoyed body surfing and creating art on his computer. Ken loved music with a passion. He also loved raw oysters, discussions on world issues, going to the post office, mangoes and marmalade - also Ravel's 'Bolero' and 'Waltzing Matilda'. He loved the idea of being an orchestral conductor.

He was a forward-thinking man, always involved in the newest innovations and discoveries. Aside from all the travels around the globe Alida and Ken enjoyed together, most time was spent at their farm in Lee New Hampshire where they put down roots of every kind - planting Christmas trees and gardens, putting in white-painted fences outlining every field where many sheep and horses grazed. They raised their three children there, and welcomed grand- children in later years. Ken loved to putter in his barn and build things. He could fix anything - plumber, electrician, carpenter, veterinarian, horticulturalist - and was committed to conservation of the land.

Ken was thoughtful, wise, innovative, industrious, caring and adventurous. A self-made man shaped by his curiosity, intellect, and travels, he was a devout husband and father. The world was indeed his oyster. Those fortunate enough to have shared it with him were enriched by knowing him. Predeceased by beloved siblings Kath and Jack, and parents Horace Percival and Violet Hoddinott, Ken leaves his wife of 68 years, Alida Eidner Rothwell, son Andrew (fiance Bridgette Johns, Dover, NH)(, daughters Kylie (Silver Spring, MD), Karin (husband Steve Ferraris, Norwich, VT); grandchildren, Cyrus and Chiara. Nieces Erin, Nola, Quita and Sue, and nephews, Nigel and Adrian. He will be greatly missed for his bright outlook on life and courageous attitude.

A celebration of his life will take place in Lee middle of August.

Condolences may be expressed in an online guestbook at www.knightfuneralhomes.com .