Stanley Charren — mechanical engineer, entrepreneur, inventor and wind energy pioneer — died Dec. 31 of Covid-19. He was 97.

He was born on June 5, 1924 in Providence, R.I. to Harry and Gertrude Katz Charren. He graduated from Brown University in 1945 with a degree in mechanical engineering and completed a master’s degree in mechanical engineering at Harvard University in 1946.

As a first lieutenant in the Air Force Reserve, he was assigned by Fairchild Corporation to build an expendable jet engine for wartime use. At Chincoteague Air Force Base, the engine was repeatedly flown to high altitudes and put in a dive with Stanley in the machine gun turret. When enough speed was reached, he allowed fuel to pour from the engine to ignite in flames so he could examine the burn pattern.

While on vacation, Stanley met Peggy Walzer, the love of his life. They married in 1951 and moved to Newton, where they raised daughters Deborah (Debbie) and Claudia (Sandi). From the moment they met, Peggy and Stanley were soulmates supporting each other in all pursuits. He was a liberated husband, making dinners and performing housework. He was always behind Peggy as she became a renowned activist and founder of Action for Children’s Television.

In 1958, he co-founded Bytrex Corporation, which merged with Kulite. Kulite-Bytrex became a leader in making strong commercially-marketed semiconductor strain gauges. He then co-founded Pandel-Bradford in Lowell to manufacture synthetic leathers and suedes for shoe uppers. It also developed a vinyl-backed carpet tile for commercial offices, selected by architect I.M. Pei for the first U.S. office building to use carpet tiles.

From early in life, Stanley struggled with back issues. Swimming helped and his desire for a small pool led him to co-found SwimEx to produce spa pools: personal-sized pools allowing a person to swim in place.

During the 1970s energy crisis, Stanley became interested in wind energy and played a key role in the development of the modern wind power industry. In 1974, he and partner Russell Wolfe started U.S. Windpower, which became the first major U.S. wind turbine manufacturer and the largest wind energy firm in the world. U.S. Windpower built the world’s first wind farm, a term Stanley coined, in 1978.

His favorite place to spend time was at his home on Quitsa Pond in Chilmark. He enjoyed morning swims in the buff off his dock, long afternoons on the beach with friends, playing tennis and grilling fresh swordfish harpooned by his neighbors, the Pooles.

Debbie and Sandi remember a father who laughed and taught them to swim, play tennis and play chess. On Sundays, there were trips to the bakery and deli, and afternoon bike rides along a secret trail ending at a doughnut shop. They negotiated traffic across Route 9, emerging with a baker’s dozen to hang on their handlebars for the trip home.

He was predeceased by his wife Peggy, and brother Burton Charren. He is survived by daughters Deborah Charren and her husband Timothy Diehl of Northampton, and Sandi Moquin and her spouse Kyle Moquin of Feeding Hills; sister in law Barbara Korstvedt of California; grandchildren Hannah, Zachary, Corey, Veronica, Matthew and Andrew; eight great-grandchildren, two great-great grandchildren, four nieces and a nephew.

The ability to use his mind for problem-solving solutions mattered deeply to Stanley. Although Alzheimer’s took this from him during his last 16 years, he kept his charm and was enjoyed by many people who cared for him. His family is grateful to the wonderful staff of NewBridge on the Charles in Dedham, Hebrew Senior Life Hospice, Always Here Home Care, Life Care Associates, Hotel and Home Recovery and the extraordinary individual caregivers who provided nursing support.