Most recent title: director of research and
William J. Ambs
development, Monsanto Education: B.S., chemistry, University of New Hampshire, 1942; M.S., chemistry, Columbia University, 1950 Survivors: sons, Harold, John, and Robert
stannous fluoride as a dentifrice for Crest toothpaste. Over his 36-year career at P&G, he directed research efforts in a wide variety of consumer health care products. In retirement, he loved to golf, travel, and spend time with his family.”—James M. Broge, son
William J. Ambs, 87, died on April 8 in Lansdale, Pa.
Miklos M. Breuer
Most recent title: director of research,
Miklos M. Breuer, 90, died on May 14 in Brookline, Mass.
Education: B.S., chemistry, Harvard Uni-
▸ Obituaries
“In his last days, dad recited from the Latin Mass. A man of faith and science, dad believed God created the laws of the natural world. In 2008, a professor wrote concerning dad’s 1952 paper in the Journal of Organic Chemistry on molecules with knots. It was a proud moment to discover something of lasting value, but dad already had faith. Dad said, ‘I will go to the altar of God. To God who giveth joy to my youth.’ ”—Caroline Ambs Niesley, daughter
Most recent title: SEI systems engineer, Lockheed Martin
Education: B.S., chemistry, Villanova University, 1952; M.S., chemistry, Stevens Institute of Technology, 1954; Ph.D., physical chemistry, Catholic University of America, 1961 Survivors: daughter, Caroline Ambs Niesley
“Miki was born in Hungary in 1927. In 1949, he escaped from Stalinist Hungary by swimming a river and immigrated to Israel. In 1974, Miki was invited by Gillette to join its corporate research in the U.S. Working both in Rockville, Md., and in Boston, he directed long-term research projects associated with toiletry products. When Gillette bought Oral-B, he started and then managed the oral care department of the company’s corporate research division. Among other developments, he was responsible for the research and development of the blue stripe on the toothbrush that indicates excessive wear. He retired from Gillette at age 65 but continued to consult for several years, both for Gillette and for other companies.”—family of Miklos Breuer
Charles H. Basdekis
Most recent title: chemist, Gillette Education: Bs.C., chemical engineering,
Charles H. Basdekis, 95, died on Dec. 7, 2016, in Longmeadow, Mass.
Technical University of Budapest, 1949; Ph.D., polymer chemistry, Weizmann Institute of Science, 1958 Survivors: wife, Joann; daughter, Judy; son, Kenny
“After graduation, Charles began working on a Navy-sponsored wartime project. After the war, while employed by Monsanto, he participated in the development of styrene polymers and played a leading role in the development of ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene) plastics. As a result, he was given an academic leave of absence to attend the graduate school of his choice. He completed the course requirements for a master’s degree at Columbia University in New York City. After those studies, he returned to Monsanto, at their Central Research Laboratories in Dayton, Ohio, working on acrylic fibers and soil conditioners. In 1952, Charles transferred to Monsanto’s Springfield plastics division, where he worked until his retirement in December 1982.”—family of Charles Basdekis
36
C&EN | CEN.ACS.ORG | JULY 10, 2017
Robert W. Broge Robert W. Broge, 97, died on April 1 in Wyoming, Ohio. “Bob had the opportunity to work on developing rocket engines as part of the war effort upon graduating from Harvard. After receiving his Ph.D. from Cornell, he joined Procter & Gamble, where he researched
Procter & Gamble versity, 1942; Ph.D., physical chemistry, Cornell University, 1948 Survivors: wife, Janet; daughter, Laurel Mauldin; sons, Charles, Edward, James, and Thomas
Audrey M. Cameron Audrey M. Cameron, 72, died on March 22 in Columbus, Ohio. “Audrey moved to Columbus, Ohio, and worked at Chemical Abstracts since 1971. Audrey loved the outdoors, reading, gardening, and sports. Among her favorite sports were curling, downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, hiking, backpacking, and tennis. Audrey loved to travel. She skied all over the West and Canada. She visited many countries on many continents. She was proud of everything Canadian, even after becoming a citizen of the U.S.”— Harry C. Hershey, partner
Most recent title: senior editor, CAS, , a division of the American Chemical Society
Education: B.S., organic chemistry, University of Saskatchewan, 1966; Ph.D., organic chemistry, McMaster University, 1972 Survivors: sister, Erma; partner, Harry C. Hershey
Demet Gurel Demet Gurel, 78, died on Jan. 7 in New York City. “In addition to being dedicated to teaching organic chemistry, my mother enjoyed visiting art galleries and museums around the world with my father, the late Okan Gurel, with whom she cowrote ‘Oscillations in Chemical Reactions,’ published by Springer-Verlag in 1983, with a Rus-
C R E D I T: COU RTESY O F CA RO L IN E A M BS N I ES L EY ( A MBS ) ; CO URT ESY O F K E N N Y B R E U E R (B R E U E R ); CO URT ESY O F JA MES BRO GE ( B RO G E) ; COU RTESY OF H A R RY H E RS H EY (CAM E RO N )
ACS NEWS
sian-language edition published by Mir in 1986. One of the joys my mother had, especially after surviving a four-month hospitalization in 2013, was to visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art to see [Jacques-Louis] David’s painting of Antoine and Mme Lavoisier. She had so many observations about the painting and Lavoisier’s life and legacy.”—Ozan Gurel, son
Most recent title: chair of chemistry and physics, Touro College; adjunct professor of chemistry, Baruch College, City University of New York Education: B.S., chemistry, American College for Girls (Robert College of Istanbul), 1959; M.S., chemistry, Smith College, 1961; Ph.D., organic chemistry, New York University, 1974 Survivors: sons, Ogan and Ozan
Bernard (Barney) J. Kane
C R E D I T: COU RTESY O F OZ A N GUR E L ( GUR E L) ; CO U RTESY O F MA R I A N KAN E (KA N E ); CO U RT ESY O F RO B E RT S E LE TS KY ( M I LL ER ) ; COU RTESY OF CA R LO S N I EV ES ( RU I Z M ARTI N E Z )
Bernard (Barney) J. Kane, 84, died on March 27 in Atlantic Beach, Fla. “Barney made significant contributions in terpene chemistry throughout his career in Jacksonville, Fla. After graduating from Adelphi University, he worked for the Naval Stores Division of Glidden, which evolved and operated as SCM Specialty Chemicals, Glidco Organics, and Millennium Specialty Chemicals, and is now Symrise. Barney published more than 35 papers and patents, was the key contributor to the chemistry behind the company’s manufacturing facility in Georgia, and worked actively in the start-up and improvement of that and other commercial processes. Upon his retirement in 1998, the company’s Jacksonville research facility was named the Bernard J. Kane Laboratory.”—Marian Kane, wife
Most recent title: principal scientist, Millennium Specialty Chemicals
Education: B.S., education, Iona College, 1954; M.S., organic chemistry, Adelphi University, 1956 Survivors: wife, Marian; sons, Philip and Gerard; daughters, Ellen Cage, Mar-
ian Kane, and Roberta O’Sullivan; 11 grandchildren
Kenneth J. Klabunde Kenneth J. Klabunde, 73, died on April 28 in Manhattan, Kan. “Ken began his career on the faculty at the University of North Dakota and moved to Kansas State University in 1979. He was an international leader in the field of nanoscience and was the founder of NanoScale Corp. He authored more than 500 scholarly publications and books, filed more than 20 patents, and received numerous awards, including the Olin Petefish Award in the Basic Sciences, the ACS Midwest Award, and the Popular Mechanics Breakthrough Award. He was a popular teacher and was especially proud of the achievements of the many undergraduates, graduate students, and postdocs who worked with him.”—Daniel A. Higgins, colleague and friend
Most recent title: University Distinguished Professor, Kansas State University
Education: B.A., chemistry, Augustana College, 1965; Ph.D., organic chemistry, University of Iowa, 1969 Survivors: wife, Linda; daughter, Sara Huter; sons, David and John; two grandsons
Michael E. Miller Michael E. Miller, 57, died on April 9 in Shutesbury, Mass. “In his field, Michael was a key figure in bioremediation and a mentor to many, and was admired and adored by all. He was likewise highly respected and beloved as a dancer and organizer for gender-role-free dance and Balkan dance, an LGBT and other progressive political activist, and a professional-grade chef, amateur botanist, naturalist, and astronomer. The number of people who mourn his loss is nearly innumerable.”—Robert E. Seletsky, husband
ACS NEWS
College, 1981; Ph.D., physical chemistry, Cornell University, 1986 Survivor: husband, Robert E. Seletsky; sister, Beth Miller Coimbra
Melvin B. Redmount Melvin B. Redmount, 90, died on Nov. 11, 2016, in Ridgway, Pa. “Melvin was a recognized expert in carbon electrode manufacturing, servicing companies in the iron and steel industry. He worked most of his career for Airco Carbon (later, part of British Oxygen) and in his retirement, worked as a consultant for Showa Denko in South Carolina. He was active in animal protection charities, local science fairs, community theater, and in his later years, family genealogy.”—Joel Redmount, son
Most recent title: director of forward planning, Airco Carbon
Education: B.S., chemical engineering, Pennsylvania State University, 1948; M.S., chemical engineering, Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute, 1950 Survivors: daughter, Esther; sons, Ian and Joel
Carlos R. Ruiz Martinez Carlos R. Ruiz Martinez, 42, died on May 16 in Aguadilla, P.R. “Carlos’s legacy will transcend the times through all the people he mentored, educated, and helped become leaders within our organization and in Puerto Rico. There is no way to describe the sadness we are feeling, but we are convinced that the song has ended but the melody lingers on.”—ACS Puerto Rico Section
Most recent title: associate dean of academic affairs, University of Puerto Rico, Aguadilla Education: B.S., chemistry, 1996, and Ph.D., applied chemistry, 2011, University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Survivors: mother, Maria Martinez Negron; sister, Martina Ruiz Martinez
Most recent title: principal environmental chemist, CDM Smith
Education: B.S., chemistry, Swarthmore
To recognize your late loved one or colleague, submit obituary information at cenm.ag/obits. JULY 10, 2017 | CEN.ACS.ORG | C&EN
37
