Edwin James Vandenberg |
| Posted 2008-03-14 by Pat Wilson |
| The Arizona Republic, Phoenix, Arizona June 24, 2005 Edwin James VANDENBERG of Fountain Hills Arizona left us to join God and his previously departed relatives on June 11, 2005 at the age of 86. Ed was preceded in death by his loving wife of 52 years, Mildred W. VANDENBERG. He was a devoted husband and loving father to their children, David J. VANDENBERG (Franklin, TN.) and Jean E. VANDENBERG (Seattle, WA.). Ed was a committed member of Pennisula and St. Paul's Methodist Church in Wilmington, Delaware and Fountain Hills Presbyterian Church in Fountain Hills, Arizona. Ed graduated from Stevens Institute of Technology in 1939 and received an honorary doctorate of engineering from Stevens in 1965. He received the prestigious Priestley Medal from the American Chemical Society on March 25, 2003, in recognition of his groundbreaking discoveries in the field of polymer chemistry and plastics and their manufacture. He has received several other awards for his work, including the ACS Award in Polymer Chemistry in 1981 and the ACS Award in Applied Polymer Science in 1991. Over the years he has been very active in the ACS division of polymer chemistry and served as its chair in 1979. Dr. VANDENBERG, who holds 116 patents, made some of his best-known discoveries over a 43-year career (except for a brief stretch in the 1940s to work on smokeless powder for the war effort) as a research chemist at Hercules Inc., a manufacturer of specialty chemicals for home, business and industry. He independently discovered a rigid, durable form of plastic named isotactic polypropylene, and the catalysts for its manufacture. The plastic that Ed invented can be found in a variety of consumer products, including carpeting, diapers and some plastic food containers. Hercules became the first U.S. producer and then the world's largest producer of polypropylene for a time. After retiring from Hercules Inc. in 1982 he held a position as a research scientist in bioengineering at Arizona State University. Ed's memory, especially his kindness and unconditional generosity, will be cherished by his children Jean and David and David's spouse Leigh. His spirit lives on in grandchildren Tara, Aaron, Lindsey, Melissa. and Leslieann and great grandchildren Alexis and Nathanial. Internment will take place at Paradise Memorial Gardens, 9300 E. Shea Blvd Scottsdale Arizona. In lieu of flowers the family has suggested remembrances be sent in Ed's memory to Fountain Hills Presbyterian Church, 13001 Fountain Hills Blvd., Fountain Hills, Arizona 85268. See Also: ASU Memoriams |
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