OBITUARIES
SERGEI AKSYONOV Aksyonov, 47, died on Sept. 11 in Salt Lake City. “Sergei is known for a new method for ionization of large DNA molecules for mass spectrometry. He led a team in Peter Williams’s lab at Arizona State University that developed a novel next-generation DNA sequencing approach. Recently, he was working to develop an instrument for recording the optical spectra of mass-selected ions at extremely low temperatures. Scientific skills, creative thinking, and adaptability made Sergei the ideal person for those complex and multifaceted projects. Sergei is remembered by his colleagues and friends as an incredibly kind and generous person, a gifted researcher, and a mentor. He loved the outdoors and enjoyed writing poetry.”—Galyna Kufryk, friend
chemistry, George Washington University, 1953 Survivors: daughter, Karen Sheren; son, Doug; and three grandchildren
HUGH KIDDER CLARK
ERIC DAVISON BROWN Brown, 87, died on March 3 in Wheaton, Ill. “He initially worked for the National Bureau of Standards, in Washington, D.C. The majority of his career was at Dow Corning, in Midland, Mich. Eric created numerous patents and contributed to several publications while there. Much of his career was in silicone and polymer research and development. Eric enjoyed golfing, photography, traveling, spending time with his family, and serving in many different capacities in his church. He was an eloquent speaker, a talented bass singer, and an avid writer. His greatest joy was his witness for Christ and serving his savior.”—Karen Sheren, daughter Most recent title: lead chemist, McGhan
NuSil Corp. Education: B.S., chemistry, Pennsylvania State University, 1949; M.S., analytical
Bednarz and Leah Valvo
NORBERT F. CYWINSKI Cywinski, 85, died on July 7 in Kerrville, Texas.
Clark, 97, died on June 20 in Aiken, S.C. “My father loved his job and his life outside of work as a gardener, world traveler, hiker, singer, and pianist. I especially remember how beautiful he sounded when rehearsing solos from Handel’s ‘Messiah.’ ”—Barbara Ucko, daughter Most recent title:
research scientist, DuPont Education: B.S., chemistry, Oberlin College, 1939; Ph.D., physical chemistry, Cornell University, 1943 Survivors: son, Lawrence; daughter, Barbara Ucko; and three grandchildren
Most recent title: postdoctoral fellow,
University of Utah Education: M.S., biophysics, Kharkiv State University, Ukraine, 1990; Ph.D., physics, Sumy Institute of Physics & Technology, Ukraine, 1995 Survivors: mother, Antonina; wife, Svitlana; son, Maksym; and daughter, Anna
Survivors: wife, Ann, and daughters, Sara
JAMES V. (JIM) CRIVELLO Crivello, 74, died on Feb. 26 in Clifton Park, N.Y. “One of his key accomplishments was the development of a new class of protic acid photogenerators, also known as ‘Crivello salts,’ for inducing cationic polymerization of epoxy resins, which opened the door for the first wave of additive manufacturing systems. Threedimensional printing with epoxy-based photopolymers still uses his materials and methodology, as does epoxy coating technology. Chemically amplified photoresists, the sine qua non of the high-density microelectronics industry, also depend on his discoveries.”— Leonard V. Interrante, colleague at Rennselaer Polytechnic Institute Most recent title: professor of chemistry,
Rennselaer Polytechnic Institute; editor of Chemistry of Materials Education: B.S., chemistry, Aquinas College, 1962; Ph.D., organic chemistry, University of Notre Dame, 1966 CEN.ACS.ORG
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“When I was growing up, my father always attended the American Chemical Society monthly meetings. They were sometimes held in the town where we lived, and sometimes in another town. Whenever he thought the topic of the presentation was of enough general interest that my mother might understand it, we would all go to the dinner and meeting. My father’s goal was to get a 50-year pin. He received that in Austin. I am pleased that I was able to take him to be honored as a 60-year ACS member at St. Philip’s College after he moved to San Antonio.”—Rachel Cywinski, daughter Most recent title: senior research chemist,
Southwestern Analytical Chemicals (now SACHEM) Education: B.S., chemistry, University of Wisconsin, Madison, 1954; Ph.D., organic chemistry, Northwestern University, 1962 Survivors: daughter, Rachel, and several siblings, nieces, and nephews
PAUL F. DEISLER JR. Deisler, 89, died on Aug. 5 in Corpus Christi, Texas. “Paul published scientific articles on many subjects, the most numerous being in the area of cancer risks in the workplace. He was one of the founders of the Society for Risk Analysis. Although he considered himself to be retired in 2005, he continued to learn, study, and write. His last article, on the origins of the universe, was published in 2011. He has also written several nonscientific books, including ‘Encountering Aggieland in 1942.’ He leaves several works to be finished by his children. He devoted himself to ensuring that his beloved wife received the best care and comfort possible until her death.”—Jane Deisler-Seno, daughter
OBITUARIES
Most recent title: vice president for
Most recent title: professor of chemistry,
health, safety, and environment, Shell Oil Education: B.S., chemical engineering, Texas A&M University, 1946; Ph.D., chemical engineering, Princeton University, 1952 Survivors: daughters, Jane and Julia; son, Paul; and five grandchildren
University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign Education: B.S., chemistry, Stanford University, 1943; Ph.D., chemistry, Princeton University, 1946; Rhodes Scholar, chemistry, University of Oxford, 1947 Survivors: wife, Shirley; daughters Jennifer, Loisanne, and Stephanie; and son Charles
RAYMOND DODSON Dodson, 95, died on July 12 in Minneapolis. “In addition to being an outstanding scientist, Dodson loved being a teacher and a mentor. After leaving the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, he taught for two years at Fort Hare University in Ciskei, South Africa. He then traveled the world with his wife, Liz, for 14 months. One of his UMN graduate students wrote, ‘He was on top of what you were doing and wouldn’t allow you to flounder, but he would force you to think for yourself. Through his penetrating questions, he would draw out of you a solution to your problem.’ ”—Eileen Harvala, communications coordinator, UMN department of chemistry Most recent title: emeritus professor of
chemistry, UMN Twin Cities; and teacher at Fort Hare University, Ciskei, South Africa Education: B.S., chemistry, Franklin & Marshall College, 1942; Ph.D., inorganic chemistry, Northwestern University, 1947 Survivors: wife, Liz; son, Steven; daughters, Debra Garley and Becky Johnson; stepsons, Robert Brenner, Scott Brenner, Mark Brenner, and James Brenner; 12 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren
GILBERT P. HAIGHT JR.
HORACIO A. MOTTOLA Mottola, 85, died on June 3 in Winter Haven, Fla. “Mottola and his research group developed a closed-loop flow system with the circulating enzyme glucose oxidase. Injection of glucose samples, followed by an evaluation of oxygen consumption at an exposed platinum wire electrode, enabled the quantitative determination of glucose. This glucose analyzer allowed a medical technician to determine the glucose level in a blood sample within one to five minutes. The method was adopted by Eppendorf A.G. and was in use in hospitals in Belgium, France, Germany, and the Netherlands.”—K. Darrell Berlin, colleague Most recent title: emeritus professor of
chemistry, Oklahoma State University Education: B.S., analytical chemistry, University of Buenos Aires, 1957; Ph.D., analytical chemistry, University of Buenos Aires, 1962 Survivors: wife, Maria; daughter, Adriana; son, Horacio Jr.; and two grandchildren
RUHANGIZ REZAAIYAN
known for her regulatory/science knowledge and expertise, and her vivacious, generous, and gracious personality. Ruhi lived life to the fullest, and she relished spending time with family and friends. She was a fabulous cook and loved to travel, entertain, and share favorite dishes from her homeland along with wonderful cups of tea and conversation. We will deeply miss Ruhi and her friendship, smile, laughter, straightforwardness, wisdom, and passion.”—Jahangir Emrani, husband Most recent title: regulatory manager,
Syngenta Crop Protection Education: B.S., chemistry, Sharif University of Technology, Iran, 1978; Ph.D., analytical chemistry, Indiana University, 1985 Survivors: husband, Jahangir Emrani; son, Darius Emrani; and daughters, Bita and Gloria Emrani
KALKUNTE S. SESHADRI Seshadri, 90, died on Feb. 5 in Morgantown, W.Va. “My father was a quiet man and a great observer. His work was very important to him, and when I was a child, I admired his dedication and his strong work ethic. He was a man of few words but of great honor and integrity, and this showed in his work as a scientist and in his dedication to his family. He was only interested in doing the best he could at work and with his family; material things mattered little to him. He was quiet, humble, dignified, and honest.”—Veena Seshadri, daughter Most recent title: senior research scien-
Haight, 92, died on April 27 in Seattle.
Rezaaiyan, 61, died on July 29 in Greensboro, N.C.
“Gil Haight was both a serious scientist and a very funny man, mixing humor into his teachings and daily life. A master of puns, he was happiest when eliciting an extended groan from those in his company. When he wasn’t teaching, he could most often be found on the tennis court where his unorthodox game drove his opponents crazy.”—Charles P. Haight, son
“Ruhi had a unique, collaborative, and trusted way of working and teaching. She was highly respected by Syngenta teams around the world and by regulatory staff at the Environmental Protection Agency. Ruhi was CEN.ACS.ORG
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tist, EG&G Education: B.S. and M.S., physical chemis-
try, University of Mysore, 1948; Ph.D., inorganic chemistry, Oregon State University, 1956 Survivors: wife, Champaka; son, Vijay; daughter, Veena; and a grandson To recognize your late loved one or colleague, submit obituary information at cenm.ag/obits.
