Danforth, Joseph D. 1912-1984

DANFORTH, NUNO

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 5/27/2010 at 17:19:19

The Grinnell Herald-Register (Grinnell, Iowa) Mrch 19, 1984

PROF. DANFORTH DIES AT 72

Joseph D. Danforth, 72, of Oakland Acres, professor emeritus of chemistry at Grinnell College, died of cancer Friday morning, March 16, at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines.

A memorial service was held at 10 a.m. today at Grinnell College. Prof. Danforth had willed his body to the University of Iowa College of Medicine.

He was born March 7, 1912, at Danville, Ill., the son of Bertha and James Danforth. He attended Danville High School, received a B.S. degree from Wabash College in Crawfordsville, Ind., and was awarded a Ph.D. degree at Purdue University.

Prior to joining the Grinnell College faculty in 1947, he worked as a research chemist for Universal Oil Products Co. in Chicago, Ill.

A member of Phi Beta Kappa and Sigma Xi, Prof. Danforth conducted extensive research and publication activities supported by grants from the Office of Naval Research, the National Science Foundation, the Petroleum Research Fund and other sources. He was listed in "American Men of Science" and "Who's Who in America."

The holder of more than 30 patents, Prof. Danforth won the Manufacturing Chemists Award in 1962 and was Roberts honor professor at Grinnell in 1962-63. He was named Dack professor of chemistry in 1964.

He served as president of the Midwest Association of Chemistry Teachers, was a member of the Petroleum Research Advisory Board, and served as a consultant in chemical education for the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

The Danforth Lecture at Grinnell is held annually in his honor. Prof. Danforth retired from the faculty here in 1979.

He was a member of the Elks Lodge, the Hermon Masonic Lodge and the Fortnightly Club. He had served on the board of trustees of the Grinnell United Methodist Church.

Survivors include his wife, Geraldine; his children, James of Joliet, Ill., Cheryl of Rock Island, Ill., David of Grinnell and Patricia Nuno of Houston, Texas; and seven grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to Grinnell College.