Paul Baker Venuto

About

University of Pennsylvania

FUNERAL HOME

Stephens Funeral Home, Inc. - Allentown

274 N Krocks Rd

Allentown, Pennsylvania

Paul Venuto Obituary

Paul B. Venuto, 90, of Yardley, PA, passed away peacefully on Saturday, October 7, 2023, surrounded by his loving wife and daughters. Born in 1933, in Bayside, NY, he was the son of the late Louis and Helen (Baker) Venuto. He was the husband of Stephanie (Lichwa) Venuto, with whom he shared 64 years of marriage. Paul earned his PhD in Organic Chemistry with honors from the University of Pennsylvania and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. After graduating, he enjoyed a long and distinguished career at Mobil Oil. He was a pioneer in the field of zeolite catalysis and his work led him to many patents, awards, and publications. He was also a proud recipient of the Ipatieff Prize, which is an international award that honors outstanding chemical or experimental work in catalysis for chemists under the age of 40. In his spare time, Paul was a lifelong learner and reader. He pursued studies of geology, astronomy, languages, classical music and poetry. He was a dedicated Boy Scout and reached the rank of Eagle Scout, which is scouting's highest honor. He was also an animal lover, and particularly loved bird watching. He traveled to almost every continent, photographing rare birds and enjoying the world's natural and cultural wonders. Above all, he was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend to many.

In addition to his wife, Stephanie, Paul is survived by his daughters, Joanna Groebel (Barry) of Reading, Marie Rodgers (Winston) of Bethlehem, Janet Melcher (Ronald) of Collegeville, brother Peter Venuto (Carol), grandchildren, Elisabeth Groebel, Bethanie Melcher, great-grandchildren Rowan and Matilda Cornelius.

Services will be held privately at the family's convenience. Stephens Funeral Home, 274 N. Krocks Rd., Allentown, PA, has been entrusted with the arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Nature Conservancy. Attn: Treasury 4245 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 100 Arlington, VA 22203 USA.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Morning Call on Oct. 12, 2023.

Memories and Condolences
for Paul Venuto

Sponsored by Stephens Funeral Home, Inc. - Allentown.

3 Entries

Tom Degnan

October 15, 2023

I had the distinct pleasure of working for Paul when he was a Manager in Mobil’s Central Research Laboratory in Princeton, NJ. Paul was my supervisor from 1989 until 1993. He was an excellent scientist and a supportive, principled, and inspirational manager. Paul was a pioneer in zeolite catalysis and was very focused on understanding the mechanistic aspects of how these novel materials did what they did. Just before retiring from Mobil in 1994, he wrote this elegant review, “Organic catalysis over zeolites: A perspective on reaction paths within micropores” (Microporous Materials, Volume 2, Issue 5,June 1994, Pages 297-411). Despite stepping away from the technology of zeolites for some 15 years, he had been silently studying and thinking about these materials in his spare time. We asked him to return to Mobil in 1996 to lecture on what he had learned. He gave an elegant and articulate two-hour seminar to many experts in the field. Paul was a scientist’s scientist – always inquisitive about nature – always pondering why things worked the way they did.

Scott Buchanan

October 13, 2023

Paul was my section manager when I first started working at Mobil Research. He was a paragon of integrity and intelligence. Despite his managerial responsibilities, he was constantly learning. He was also an intense, honoring listener; I tried to emulate him in that.

An intense early memory I have of Paul is after I had been there about a year and published some conclusions that raised hackles in a different department, leading to Paul getting angry phone calls from higher-ups. He was the perfect boss, absorbing the hits and protecting me to keep telling it like it was. I always appreciated that.

I knew he liked birds, so when I left his orbit at work I gave him two original white-on-black hand-etchings of birds done by a friend of our family.

My condolences to his wife and children and other family members at the loss of this wonderful man.

-Scott Buchanan

Randy Partridge

October 13, 2023

My most sincere condolences to Paul's family. Paul will be missed by many and most of all by those he loved. May he rest in peace.

I was first inspired by Paul when he presented a lecture on "Zeolite Catalysis in Organic Synthesis" at a 1970 Catalysis Club meeting when I was in college. Little did I know then that I would be working with and mentored by Paul at Mobil Research. Thank you Paul for so many great years of inspiring research.

Randy Partridge.

Showing 1 - 3 of 3 results