Keith Usherwood INGOLD

1929 - 2023

DR. KEITH USHERWOOD INGOLD OC, FRS, FRSC, FRSE May 31, 1929 - September 8, 2023 Keith was born to Sir Christopher Ingold and Lady Hilda Usherwood in Leeds, England. Both his parents were physical organic chemists, so Keith was destined to become one as well. He completed his BSc in Chemistry in 1949 at University College London, where his father was Head of the Department. Upon obtaining his PhD in Chemistry from Oxford University at the age of 22, he immigrated to Canada to take a position at the National Research Council in Ottawa, followed by two years of post-doctoral research at the University of British Columbia. He was drawn there not by the science, but by the mountains. Keith had taken up downhill skiing in Ottawa and expected skiing, as well as climbing, to be better around Vancouver. He returned to work at the NRC in 1955 as a research officer, and was later promoted to head of the Free Radical Chemistry Section. He met his future wife, Cairine Hodgkin, in July, on a raft in the middle of a small lake in the Quebec hills, just north of Ottawa. They built a home overlooking the Rideau River, a 25-minute drive from work, and more importantly, only a 5-minute drive from Cairine's Golf Club. He remained at the NRC for the rest of his career and finally retired at the age of 87. During his life he won many accolades, including the American Chemistry Society Petroleum Chemistry Award, Linus Pauling Award, Royal Society of London Davy Medal, ACS Arthur C. Cope Scholar Award, ACS James Flack Norris Award, Officer of the Order of Canada, Gerhard Herzberg Gold Medal for Science and Engineering, Royal Society (London) Royal Medal, Gold Medal 'Angelo Mangini' of the Organic Chemistry Division of the Italian Chemical Society, Royal Society (London) Sir Derek Barton Gold Medal. He was awarded honourary doctorates from the University of St. Andrews Scotland, University of Ancona Italy, Universities of Dalhousie, Guelph, Carleton, Mount Allison and McMaster. Dr. Ingold and his colleagues made outstanding contributions to international science by quantifying free-radical chemistry, enabling him to apply his findings in new ways that have had considerable impact on the petroleum and plastics industries. Best known for his work on the application of the chemistry of free radicals in living organisms - specifically the human body - his investigations into the role of oxidation in the aging process have pioneered the understanding of the role of Vitamin E as an antioxidant in medicine and health. To say Keith liked travel would be somewhat of an understatement, he and Cairine were always on the go, attending chemistry conferences, lecturing at universities, visiting colleagues and friends. Summers were spent at home, Cairine on the golf course and Keith waterskiing on the Rideau. He taught countless postdocs and visitors to ski, and after, there was always a dinner party thrown by Cairine with lots of wine and the compulsory scotch. He will be remembered by chemists the world over for his work and his hospitality. He built and maintained an ice coated wooden slide in the winter so party guests could toboggan across the Rideau River. Keith was predeceased by his wife, Cairine; son, Christopher; and sister, Dr. Sylvia Ingold. He will be greatly missed by his son, John (Karen); and daughter, Diana; his sister, Dilys Jones; several nephews and a niece. He was an outstanding grandfather to Scott (Katie), Andrew (Ashleigh), Jeffrey and Laura Ingold, and Michelle and Sean Pratt. He taught all his grandchildren to ski and waterski, and some of his favourite memories were ski trips in western Canada with all six. Keith was indeed lucky to hold two of his great-grandchildren, Mason and Avery. Family and friends are invited to visit at the Central Chapel of Hulse, Playfair & McGarry, 315 McLeod St. (at O'Connor), Ottawa, on Saturday, September 30, 2023, from 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. Celebration of Life in the Chapel at 3:00 p.m. Reception will follow on the second level of the McGarry Family Reception Centre. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Arthritis Society, Alzheimer Society or the Ottawa Mission would be appreciated. Condolences/Donations/Tributes Hulse, Playfair & McGarry www.hpmcgarry.ca 613-233-1143