Copyright 2008 by the American Chemical Society
VOLUME 112, NUMBER 46, NOVEMBER 20, 2008
Biography of Janos H. Fendler Janos Fendler was one of the most cultivated men I ever met not only in Science but also in art, literature, and gastronomy. During his career, he opened several new areas of research and was highly recognized for all of them. He was a pioneer in developing radiation chemistry, physical organic chemistry, micelles, membrane mimetic chemistry material sciences, nanomaterials, and plasmonic. His major breakthrough was to use membrane mimetic chemistry to make advanced materials. He developed micellar catalysis and macromolecular assemblies. In 1977, he used photochemistry in colloids for solar energy, and in subsequent years, he moved on to nanomaterials, polymeric-coated surfaces, and ended his career in plasmonic and nanobiological systems. One measure of the high level of his research is his very high Hirsch factor (h ) 61) and high citation number (14616). He received numerous awards including the Kendall Award in Colloid and Surface Chemistry (1983) from the American Chemical Society, the Alexander von Humboldt Senior U.S. Scientist Award (1991), the Israeli Meyerhoff Award (1997), the Honorary D.Sc. in Membrane Mimetic Chemistry from the University of London (1978), and an Honorary Doctorate (Honoris Causa) from the University of Szeged, Hungary (1999). However, Fendler was much more than a scientist. He was a man with an unyielding energy to relish life in all of its facets by making new discoveries each day: whether this was
discussing literature, visiting a renowned museum, enjoying a two hour lunch (executive lunches as he affectionately called them), or ensuring that his children received the best education by finding the highest quality schools or by personally spending time with them to solve math problems and write pre´cis. Fendler was born in Hungary in 1937 and at 19 escaped to England. His new home country made a remarkable impression upon him as he remained nostalgic about the 8 years spent at the University of London all of his life. In 1964, he left England for United States and became an American citizen. After some time at the University of CaliforniasSanta Barbara and at the Mellon Institute in Pittsburgh, he joined the chemistry faculty at Texas A&M University. In 1985, after 3 years at Clarkson University, he moved to Syracuse University as Distinguished Professor of Chemistry and served as Director of the Center for Membrane Engineering and Science. In 1997, he returned to Clarkson. Many got a glimpse of Fendler’s life through his detailed annual letters in which he summarized that year’s developments in his family life, his most noteworthy readings, and his major scientific progress. Unbelievably, he read two or three books a week and was cultured in many domains. He found great delight talking about any of these subjects and was particularly eager to discuss science with young scientists with whom he was always happy to share his scientific ideas or give general life
10.1021/jp808136u CCC: $40.75 2008 American Chemical Society Published on Web 11/13/2008
14344 J. Phys. Chem. B, Vol. 112, No. 46, 2008 advice. Fendler had a high ethical standard and great generosity that are not so common today, even in science. Those close to him often said that Fendler lived five times more intensely than most people. He died on July 12, 2007 after a harsh battle with cancer, which he attacked with the vigor and resoluteness as anything in his life. As the end approached, his major aim was to live long enough to ensure that his two youngest children received the very best possible education and to have his wife Eliza by his side. She told me that in his last days, he was courageous and tried to give strength to his family. Eliza and his children, David, Veronika, Monika, Peter, Lisa,
and Michael, can be honored to have had a husband and a father of such solid character. I know he gave them the strength to succeed and enjoy life, or in Fendler’s words, “press on regardless”. For all who knew Fendler, I thank him for his generosity, his ethics, and his freedom not to compromise in science nor in life.
Marie-Paule Pileni JP808136U
