Malcolm Louis Sturchio, a former editor of the Indicator, a mentor,
colleague and friend of the members of the North Jersey and New
York ACS Sections passed away on April 30, 2009, after a courageous
battle with primary liver cancer.
Mal was a dedicated chemist and educator who, in his 57 years as a
professor of chemistry and science education at Fairleigh Dickinson
University, taught tens of thousands of chemistry students and
trained thousands more science teachers.
Malcolm Sturchio was born in Newark, NJ and attended Rutgers
University (B.A., 1952) and Seton Hall University (M.A., 1954). He
taught chemistry at Rutgers (Newark, NJ) and Panzer College (East
Orange, NJ) from 1952-54, at the same time that he began a career-long
association with Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU). Starting
in 1952 with his appointment as a Lecturer in Chemistry Malcolms
work at FDU was consistently recognized as he assumed increasing
responsibilities and numerous administrative positions including
Executive Director of their Science Education Center and of their
Math/Science Institute. In 1998, the University awarded him a
Doctor of Humane Letters degree in recognition of his outstanding
service to the University and to science education. His work with
and commitment to FDU continued long after his official retirement
in 1997.
Dr. Sturchio also played an important role in international relations
in chemistry, particularly in his close relationship to the Korean
chemical community and involvement in introducing modern science
curricula to Korea following a stint as Fulbright Professor at Seoul
National University in the mid-1960s.
Mal first joined the ACS in 1950 and was a fixture among the
leadership of the North Jersey ACS Section. He held nearly every
office in the Section, edited its monthly bulletin, The Indicator,
Chaired the Section and served it well for multiple terms as a
Councilor and Alternate Councilor. He was a valued and reliable
member of a number of national and divisional ACS committees,
including the Committee on Teaching Chemistry of the Division of
Chemical Education and the ACS International Activities Committee.
Mal influenced science education in New Jersey and nationally he
led the New Jersey State Science Day and New Jersey Science League
for decades and held leadership positions in both the New Jersey
Science Teachers Association and the New Jersey Science Supervisors
Association, as well as the National Science Teachers Association.
Through his work on Kids in Chemistry and in teacher training courses
Mal encouraged strong science curricula at the primary school level.
He also provided exciting opportunities for high school students
with his work on the Science League and Science Day.
Malcolm Sturchio was also actively engaged in the community and his
willingness to give unstintingly of his time and counsel was matched
by his generosity and steadfast support for his family and wide
network of friends and colleagues around the world. Malcolm Sturchio
will be missed.
A memorial service will be held at FDU on May 30th. In his memory,
the family is establishing the Malcolm Sturchio Scholarship in
Chemistry at Fairleigh Dickinson University. Please send donations
to: Fairleigh Dickinson University, Institutional Advancement, 1000
River Road, Teaneck, NJ 07666, Attn: Ms. Sue McConville.
