Obituaries

Abstract

OBITUARIES Obituaries ShareShare onFacebookTwitterWechatLinked InRedditEmail Linda WangC&EN, 2017, 95 (22), p 44May 29, 2017Cite this:C&EN 95, 22, 44Derek A. Davenport (Credit: Courtesy of Tamar Susskind)Figure1of1Derek A. Davenport, 89, died on April 4 in West Lafayette, Ind. “He touched the lives, and occasionally altered the career paths, of hundreds of undergraduate and graduate students. He served as chair of the ACS Division of Chemical Education as well as the Division of the History of Chemistry, and he was the recipient of several national awards. Derek traveled extensively, lectured in every state of the Union, and spent two sabbaticals overseas helping establish the Indian Institute of Technology in Kanpur. He was never one to turn down a good Manhattan, nor the opportunity to provide a colorful lecture (complete with slides) about his experiences in academia, his travels, or his ever-growing collection of Nigerian and Inuit art.”—family of Derek Davenport Most recent title: professor emeritus of chemistry, Purdue University Education: B.Sc., chemistry, 1947, and Ph.D., chemistry, 1950, University College LondonSurvivors: daughter, Susan; sons, Martin and Alan; two grandchildren; long-time companion, Tamar SusskindEugene Garfield Figure1of1Eugene Garfield, 91, died on Feb. 26 in Bryn Mawr, Pa. “Eugene Garfield is universally recognized as a visionary pioneer in information science. He founded the Institute for Scientific Information in 1960, ultimately creating research tools used by researchers around the world, including the Science Citation Index, Current Contents, and Current Chemical Reactions. His work not only changed how research was conducted but also changed the lives of many with whom he came in contact. He served as a role model, teacher, mentor, and friend to many within the scientific and information communities and earned their lifelong respect, admiration, and loyalty.”—Bonnie Lawlor, friend and former employee Most recent title: president and founder, Institute for Scientific Information (now Clarivate Analytics)Education: B.S., chemistry, 1949, and M.S., library science, 1954, Columbia University; Ph.D., structural linguistics, University of Pennsylvania, 1961Survivors: wife, Meher; sons, Alex, Stephen, and JoshMaurice M. Kreevoy Maurice M. Kreevoy, 87, died on March 20, 2016, in Crystal, Minn. “He was a terrific scientist and scholar in the best sense of the word, but he was also a real gentleman. Whenever people asked me about Maury, they would comment about what a kind man he was.”—Steven Kass, friend and colleague Most recent title: chemistry professor, University of MinnesotaEducation: B.S., chemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, 1950; Ph.D., chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1954Survivors: daughter, Edith Pang; son, William; two grandchildrenGeorge D. (Doug) Nelson (Credit: Courtesy of George Nelson Jr.)Figure1of1George D. (Doug) Nelson, 95, died on Sept. 25, 2016, in St. Louis. “Doug worked at Lehigh University from 1942 to 1947 on a National Defense Research Corp. program studying problems in small arms manufacturing related to stress/corrosion failure of brass cartridge shells. He later joined Monsanto Chemical Co., where he worked on applications for phosphoric acid as well as its sodium, potassium, and calcium salts. Some of this included the first formulations for fluoride in toothpastes. Additional contributions were made in reduced-fume acid bath compositions for aluminum brightening from 1959 to 1965. From 1965 to his retirement in 1986, Doug worked on chlorine stabilizers based on chlorinated-S-triazinetrione for sanitizers, detergents, bleaches, and disinfectants for swimming pools and spas. His pride in his profession led me to a career in chemistry.”—George D. Nelson Jr., son Most recent title: chemist, MonsantoEducation: B.S., chemistry, Randolph-Macon College, 1941; M.S., chemistry, Lehigh University, 1943Survivors: wife, Pauline; daughter, Laura Colburn; sons, Frederick and George Jr.; five grandchildrenJoseph N. Neucere Joseph N. Neucere, 83, died on Jan. 20, 2016, in San Angelo, Texas. “Joseph’s first language was Cajun French. After graduating from high school at age 16, he moved to New Orleans. At 19, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force as a medic in the Korean zone. Later, he became an X-ray technician. He was employed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in New Orleans as a research chemist. He retired in January 1997. He enjoyed, for many years, going fishing with work friends.”—family of Joseph Neucere Most recent title: research chemist, U.S. Department of Agriculture Education: B.S., chemistry and physics, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge Survivors: wife, Martha; daughter, SeasonRodney L. Willer Rodney L. Willer, 67, died on Feb. 12, 2016, in Gulfport, Miss. “Rod published many significant papers and patents on synthesis, characterization, and scale-up of energetic binders, furazans, polycyclic nitramines, energetic cubyl compounds, hydroxyl ammonium nitrate, and propellant formulation. He was a sports car, powerboat, waterskiing, and rock climbing enthusiast.”—Robson F. Storey, colleague Most recent title: research scientist, University of Southern MississippiEducation: B.S., chemistry, 1970, and M.S., organic chemistry, 1972, East Carolina University; Ph.D., organic chemistry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, 1976Survivors: brother, Clinton; sister, Yvonne Marion Evans