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Media
Contact:
NC State News Services,
919/515-3470
Oct.
2, 2002
NC State
Community Mourns the Death of Vivian T. Stannett
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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Dr.
Vivian Thomas Stannett, Camille Dreyfus Professor
Emeritus of Chemical Engineering and Dean Emeritus
of the Graduate School at North Carolina State
University, died on Oct. 1 at Raleigh Community
Hospital. He was 85.
An internationally renowned polymer chemist, Stannett
was a pioneer in the use of high-energy radiation
to form new polymers or alter existing ones. He
was a recognized leader in the study and application
of membrane science and technology. His research
helped lead to the development of a wide range
of beneficial products, including super-absorbent
paper towels and diapers, flame-resistant textiles
and plastic bottles that keep soft drinks from
going flat.
Born
Sept. 1, 1917, in Langley, England, Stannett received
his bachelor's degree in chemistry from London
Polytechnic University in 1939, and his doctorate
from the Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn in
1950 under the direction of Professor Herman Mark.
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Dr.
Vivian Thomas Stannett
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He
served as professor of polymer chemistry at State University
at Syracuse, N.Y., from 1952 to 1961, when he moved
to North Carolina to become associate director of the
Camille Dreyfus Laboratory at the Research Triangle
Institute. He held that post until coming to NC State
in 1967.
Stannett joined the NC State faculty as professor of
chemical engineering. He then served as vice provost
and dean of NC State's Graduate School from 1975 to
1982. He is credited with helping the university establish
the nation's first doctoral program in textile chemistry.
Until his death, he continued to contribute to NC State's
Department of Chemical Engineering and also served part-time
as Camille Dreyfus scientist for the Research Triangle
Institute.
During his career he served on the editorial boards
of several professional journals and published about
400 papers and reviews on polymer science and technology.
Stannett received the North Carolina Science Award and
Gold Medal, the highest science award given in the state
of North Carolina, in 1981; the O. Max Gardner Award,
the highest honor bestowed on faculty by the UNC system,
in 1984; and the Holladay Medal, the highest honor given
to faculty members by the NC State Board of Trustees
and the university, in 1992.
Stannett also received the American Chemical Society
Award in Polymer Chemistry, the Silver Medal of the
Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry,
and the Society of Plastics Engineers International
Award and Gold Medal, among other awards and honors.
"He
was just a special person, a one-of-a-kind," said
Dr. Hal Hopfenberg, Camille Dreyfus Professor of Chemical
Engineering at NC State and a close colleague and friend
of Stannett's. "He is single-handedly responsible
for the growth of NC State's rise to prominence in engineering
research."
Dr. Don Paul, professor of chemical engineering at the
University of Texas, was also a colleague of Stannett's.
"He had a tremendous impact on his profession.
He was also a kind, gentle man who was very supportive
of younger scientists. I never met a person who didn't
like him," Paul said.
According to Chancellor Emeritus Larry Monteith, Stannett's
presence at NC State attracted a number of top-notch
scientists, and provided the impetus for NC State to
become a center of excellence in graduate and engineering
research.
"He
will be missed," Monteith said. "He's an important
part of NC State history. Anyone looking back at his
time at the university will find that NC State prospered
enormously thanks to his reputation and contributions."
Stannett was a member of the National Academy of Engineering,
and a Fellow of the Royal Institute of Chemistry, the
New York Academy of Sciences, the American Chemical
Society and the Society of Plastics Engineers.
He is survived by Susanne, his wife of 56 years; daughter
Rosemary Royce and son-in-law Christopher Royce; grandchildren
Julian, Trevor and Liam Royce; and sister-in-law Ellen
Strauss of London.
A memorial service is planned for the afternoon of Monday,
Oct. 21 in Raleigh. His remains will be interred in
the Memorial Garden of Stoke Poges Church near Windsor,
England.
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30 -
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Raleigh,
NC 27695
