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Obituaries
Douglas Eric Arthur Rivett (27 June 1921 – 25 January 2010)
Nationally and internationally renowned organic chemist, academic and Old Rhodian, Professor Emeritus Douglas Rivett, passed away peacefully in Grahamstown on 25th January, 2010.
Born in the Western Cape in 1921, Douglas Rivett entered Rhodes University as an undergraduate in Science in 1939. He obtained a double first in Chemistry and Physics and went on to an MSc degree studying the sulphurous constituents found in the volatile oil of a local plant known as sea buchu. This work was carried out under the guidance of one of the great Rhodes University characters, Dr JLB Smith, who was then a lecturer in organic chemistry at the University and went onto identify the coelacanth; the “living fossil” fish. A short stint as a Government analyst in Salisbury in the former Southern Rhodesia followed, after which he went onto Cambridge to complete the PhD degree in organic chemistry with Nobel laureate, Lord Todd in 1948. The recipient of a prestigious Rockefeller Post-Doctoral Scholarship, Douglas Rivett moved onto Princeton; this time to the laboratory of Professor Wallis, where he threw himself with characteristic vigour and energy into the world of steroid chemistry, then a new and exciting field of research endeavour.
Always intending to return to South Africa, Douglas Rivett’s first appointment in this country was through Old Rhodian and fellow Cambridge graduate Sir Basil Schonland to the National Chemical Research Laboratory of the CSIR in Pretoria in 1950. Shortly after arriving at the CSIR, Douglas Rivett headed back overseas on secondment to the British Chemical Defense Experimental Establishment in Porton Downs near Salisbury in Wiltshire. He was the only South African ever to work at this top-secret chemical warfare facility. Douglas Rivett returned to the CSIR after a year at Porton and turned his attention to more peaceful pursuits namely, amongst others, studying the chemistry of the complex bitter tasting chemical compounds (natural products) found in the rinds of wild cucumbers. Six years of natural product research at the CSIR provided an opportunity for a spell in industry with the agricultural chemical company, Agricura, based on the outskirts of Pretoria. The ties to research and academia however were too strong and Douglas Rivett returned to his alma mater as a senior lecturer in organic chemistry early in 1962. Douglas Rivett rose through the academic ranks at Rhodes University to become the Chair and Professor of Organic Chemistry. He firmly established the national and international reputation for high quality natural products chemistry research at this University and he remains the only South African chemist ever to have published chemistry research papers continually over seven decades (1946-2005) - a record that will probably never be broken! He was well known across the Eastern Cape for his “Chemistry Magic Shows” which delighted and enthused generations of young scientists. Douglas Rivett served as Chairman of the South African Chemical Institute (1978-1979) and was editor of the South African Journal of Chemistry (1958-1967). He was an intensely staunch Old Rhodian, leading the Old Rhodian Union with distinction and he was thus a worthy recipient of an Old Rhodian award from Rhodes University in 2007 for his unique contribution to the University over many years. A character larger than life in academic circles, Douglas Rivett was one of Rhodes University’s greatest sons and most loyal servants.
Douglas Rivett is survived by his wife, Lettie, their three sons and six grandchildren.
OBITUARY: PROFESSOR DAVID WILLIAMS-WYNN
Emeritus Professor David Ernest Arthur Williams-Wynn, born 25 June 1930, joined the University of Natal in the then Department of Chemistry and Chemical Technology as Professor of Applied Chemistry in January 1975. He retired in 1991, having served as Dean of the Faculty in 1980-1981 and Dean of the Faculty in Durban from 1989 to 1991. He died at his home in Westville on 9 May.
He obtained his PhD from Rhodes University and had a lengthy career in the paint industry and in leather research before joining the University of Natal. His appointment to the Department was the result of a decision to include Applied Chemistry as part of the undergraduate degree in Chemistry. He had been the Director of the South African Paint Research Institute, which had formal ties with the University, and when the Institute closed at the end of 1974, he was appointed as the first, and so far only, Professor of Applied Chemistry at the University. Applied Chemistry moved into the Institute's premises, which are still standing on the Howard College campus. Analytical Chemistry later moved in as well, and Professor Williams-Wynn was instrumental in getting the buildings improved and considerably enlarged.
He was extremely concerned with the excellence and relevance of teaching of Chemistry and worked hard to see that graduates were well-equipped to deal with the real-world problems they would encounter in industry. During his time at the University, graduates in Pure and Applied Chemistry were very much in demand as employees.
A Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, Professor Williams-Wynn maintained active links with the chemical industry, serving for two terms as chairman of the Durban section of the SA Chemical Institute, and as a member of the Oil and Colour Chemists Association.
Our condolences go to his wife, Brenda, and their daughter Bridget and sons Christopher and Timothy.
Professor Williams-Wynn's funeral takes place at 12:00 on Wednesday 12 May at St Agnes Church, 53 Abelia Road, Kloof.
(With thanks to Professor Mike Laing for providing much of the biographical information.)
OBITUARY: JOHN MOSS (22 October 1943 - 30 May 2010)
Emeritus Professor John Moss passed away on 30 May 2010 aged 66 years. He had been a member of the academic staff of the Department of Chemistry since his appointment in 1979 as a Senior Lecturer. In 1995, he was appointed as the Jamison Professor of Inorganic Chemistry, a position which he held with distinction until his retirement in 2008. His passing is a sad occasion for all the staff and students in the Department.
John was a person with rare attributes in terms of his strength of character, work ethic, commitment, dedication, collegiality and courage. When faced with what most people would regard as an insurmountable challenge, he never saw it as such. To him, these so-called challenges were merely hurdles which had to be faced, negotiated, surmounted and resolved. And he simply got on with it in a most business-like and efficient manner. His professional achievements in teaching, research and administration, as well as his sporting achievements in mountaineering and sailing, bear testimony to this remarkable strength of character with which few people are blessed.
And so it was with his illness. He accepted what was required of him - muster his strength and soldier on, no matter the odds. Never did he comment cynically about the cruel hand that fate had dealt him. Never did he feel sorry for himself. He recognized that he simply had to face this new hurdle head-on. And this is exactly what he did. Remarkably, his concern during the past few months was for his research students and for his various obligations in the Chemistry Department. He was anxious to ensure that appropriate arrangements were in place to cover his inevitable absence from his office and laboratory. He visited the Department a couple of times each week – not because he wanted a change of scenery per se, but rather to be in an environment in which he felt stimulated and excited, an environment which he loved. This allowed him to engage, albeit for short periods of time only, with his colleagues and research students, and to catch up on Departmental affairs.
John’s esteemed research contributions in the fields of inorganic and organometallic chemistry earned him deserved recognition by way of Fellowships from the Royal Society of Chemistry, the Royal Society of South Africa and a Lifetime Fellowship from the University of Cape Town. His research work has been published in nearly 300 scientific papers, review articles, book chapters and conference proceedings, all of which have attracted over 2000 citations.
It was not only in research that he excelled. His gifted teaching skills were recognized in 1994 when he received the Distinguished Teachers Award from the University of Cape Town.
John also had fine leadership skills. Besides serving with distinction as Head of the Department of Chemistry at UCT (1997- 2001), he also served as President of the UCT Mountain and Ski Club, as Vice President of the Cape Natural History Society and as the National Expeditions Convenor of the Mountain Club of South Africa. His adventurous spirit and strength of character can be gauged from his many mountaineering feats on all of the world’s continents, some of which were first ascents, and his participation in several trans-ocean yacht races.
His collegiality and unwavering loyalty to the Chemistry Department were consistent and sustained throughout his career at UCT. He always demonstrated a desire to contribute in any way towards its improvement, growth and well-being. Consequently, it is no surprise that he leaves many legacies. Among these are over forty MSc and PhD students who were trained under his supervision. Additionally, the Department’s Equity Development Program, formerly known as “GOOT” or “Growing our own Timber”, was established during his headship and is a manifestation of his vision and energy. It has produced several success stories over the years and has made a significant contribution towards capacity development of potential academic staff in South Africa.
John was indeed “a man for all seasons”. His contributions in shaping the history of the Department of Chemistry at UCT have been significant and substantial. His passing represents a great loss to the Department, to the Faculty of Science and to the University itself. We shall remember him with great respect and affection.
Professor A Rodgers,
Head Department of Chemistry, UCT
Obituary: Francois Etienne Malherbe
Dr. Etienne Malherbe passed away on May 28, 2010 in his 92nd year, in Pretoria. Together with his many achievements, his contributions to the SA Chemical Institute over many decades will be remembered and appreciated.
I met Etienne for the first time when I joined the Committee of the Pretoria Branch of SACI in the early sixties, and he immediately impressed me as a man who had a clear vision about the way that SACI should serve its members. When I became Council member of SACI in the late sixties, he was one of the stalwart figures who dominated Council meetings, who truly represented the members of the Institute, who was always wide awake so that no detail ever escaped his scrutiny. In short, it was a pleasure to work with him in the interests of SACI. When he became President of the Institute, it was abundantly clear that he was also an excellent leader. He served a very successful term of office as President of the Institute and remained a member for many years afterwards.
Etienne Malherbe was born in Pretoria on 21 September 1918 and matriculated at the Afrikaanse Hoërskool. He was awarded the B.Sc.-degree with distinction by the University of Pretoria (UP) in 1937 (with five majors!), M.Sc. with distinction in Physical Chemistry in 1940 from UP, and a Ph.D. from the University of Cambridge in 1948. In 1951 he spent a very successful period of post-doctoral research in spectroscopy at the National Research Council of Canada with Dr. Gerhard Herzberg, who was, without doubt, the leading spectroscopist of the twentieth century. His interest in research never diminished, and he always made it clear in the various councils on which he served, that science teaching must never be divorced from research.
He was appointed as Lecturer in Physical Chemistry at UP at the age of 20 in 1938 and three years later was promoted to Senior Lecturer and Head of the Department. He was Professor in Physical Chemistry at the University College of the Free State (later UOVS) for a brief period in 1952, then left to join the South African Iron and Steel Corporation (ISCOR), later becoming Manager of Research and Process Development. He stayed at ISCOR till his retirement. Many improvements were made to the various processes used at ISCOR, based upon solid scientific and engineering research, which he guided with thoroughness and enthusiasm. Many of these developments were reported in scientific publications, or at conferences both here and abroad. During his tenure, ISCOR was always present at SACI Conventions.
His work at ISCOR made it clear to him that the country needed a Department of Metallurgy, and it was due to his initiative that a degree in Iron and Steel Metallurgy was instituted at UP. This department in the Engineering Faculty (now called Metallurgical Engineering) is still flourishing and has contributed much to the development of Metallurgy in South Africa.
After he retired from ISCOR in 1981 he became Managing Director of the Foundation for Education, Science and Technology, where he contributed much to the effective functioning of the Foundation and the fulfillment of its Mission and Vision, namely, firstly, to stimulate the awareness of science and technology at all educational levels; secondly, to consolidate the publication of not only South African academic research output with scientific journals which published only peer-reviewed articles at university level, but also at general school level, encompassing science, technology and culture; and thirdly, to guide the Science Museum to serve the youth of the country. In this regard I would like to make specific mention of his dedication to the Journal of the South African Chemical Institute, Spectrum, Archimedes and Lantern. He also played an important part in the establishment and effective running of the South African Science Olympiad, which reached all levels of the population. He sometimes accompanied the winners to the United Kingdom, overseeing their travel arrangements and the intricacies of obtaining the necessary travel documentation, guiding them with a very efficient and very caring hand through the various social and scientific engagements arranged for them – and many of them stayed in contact with him for many years.
Etienne Malherbe also had a deep interest in music. He initiated the founding of the Pretoria Youth Orchestra, of which he was chairperson for four years, and also served as the secretary of the Pretoria Music Club for 25 years. He was a member of the Transvaal Advisory Board of Performing Arts for 18 years, serving inter alia as Vice-Chairperson, a full member of the Suid-Afikaanse Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns and founder member and first Chairperson of its Pretoria Chemistry Branch.
Etienne Malherbe received many honours, such as Honorary Membership of the Instrument and Control Society of South Africa, a special silver medal from the Association of Science and Biology Teachers of SA, the Chancellor’s Medal of UP, and from SACI the Hendrik van Eck-Medal for services to the profession of Chemistry and Society other than academic research and Honorary Membership.
He was married to Joubero, who is well known in classical music circles in the country, and they have two children and five grandchildren.
With the death of Dr. Etienne Malherbe the Chemical Institute has lost the support of one of its oldest members, but not the contribution he made. Our sympathy is extended to the Malherbe family.
Casper Schutte
I acknowledge the assistance of Dr. André Breedt of the University of Pretoria who allowed me to make use of the notes he used for his in-memoriam speech on behalf of the University during the funeral ceremony.
OBITUARY: JOE KITCHING
J W H (Jonah or Joe) Kitching serve in the North African campaign and after the war came to SA arriving in Cape Town in 1948. In Johannesburg he was employed on the staff of Kelvin House where among other duties he was the Secretary of the SACI until about 1968. He was a great friend of Mischa Mrost Older members will surely remember him.
He came to SA in 1948 and served at Kelvin House until 1968(?) before returning to Northumberland to care for his parents. After their deaths he moved to warmer climes, the foothills of the Pyrenees near Pau. I visited him there in 1983. Subsequently he visited SA once or twice to see old friends and finally last October he came to us in Simon's Town and spent two weeks here during which he celebrated his 91st birthday. We had hoped to see him again in August but recently got news that he had died in his cottage of a heart attack. Those who knew him will remember him as wonderful human being.
John Morris
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