Jacob "Jack" Fuchs

1923 - 2021

Jacob "Jack" Fuchs

Tempe - Jacob "Jack" Fuchs, 97, of Tempe, AZ, passed away Jan. 3, 2021. He was born on May 7, 1923 in New York City, NY to Sandor and Irma (Raducziner) Fuchs. His first recollection of interest in chemistry refers to an event that occurred at the age ten. He convinced his father to take him to the chemical supply house Eimer and Amend to purchase chemicals to augment the usual ones found in his regular chemistry set. Fast forward five years and Jack is now a laboratory assistant for his chemistry teacher at Stuyvesant High School. In June 1944, he is awarded a B.A. in Chemistry from the Heights Campus of New York University but by that time he has already spent three months in basic training in the Army at Camp Croft, S.C. After serving in Europe as a Combat Infantryman with the 79th Infantry Division, he was discharged on Halloween, 1945. A blind date on New Year's Eve brought Rose Lochansky into his life and they were married six months later. Then it was off to the University of Illinois-UC for graduate study. After receiving an M.S. (Chemistry) 1947 and a Ph.D. (Analytical Chemistry) 1950, followed by an additional 18 months of post-doctoral training, Jack accepted appointment as Assistant Professor of Chemistry at what was soon to become Arizona State University. In addition to normal advancement through academic ranks, he also served as Executive Officer of the department for 14 years. He retired in 2007 after 55 and a half years on the faculty, establishing a record dating back to the founding of the school in 1885. In 1956, he conceived and inaugurated a course geared toward the training of atomic spectroscopists. The "Modern Industrial Spectroscopy" program was offered annually each summer for 40 years and drew attendees from most of the states in the U.S. as well as every continent except Antarctica. In 1985, Jack served as National President of the Society for Applied Spectroscopy.

No biography would be complete without mention of Jack's parallel "career" as a musician which spanned six decades. He performed with many types of musical aggregations, both large and small, from jazz combos to symphony orchestras. He spent 27 years as Principal Timpanist with the Phoenix Symphony followed by 18 more years in the same capacity with the Symphony of the West Valley, providing him with the opportunity to share the stage with many notables ranging from the likes of jazz great Benny Goodman to conductor Arthur Fiedler. Perhaps his simultaneous listing for many years in American Men and Women of Science and in the International Who's Who in Music sums up the life of Jack Fuchs, scientist/educator and musician.

Jack is survived by his beloved daughter Tara (Alan) Roesler as well as his grandson, Alexander and granddaughter, Kimberly ("Little One"); his daughter-in-law Debra and grandchildren, Jennifer (Nick) Masse and Robert (Melissa) Tischler; and great grandchildren, Jaeden, Zoe, Blake and Ryker. Jack was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Rose, and his beloved son, Gary. A visitation will be held on Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021 from 12:30 pm - 1:00 pm with funeral service at 1:00 pm at Green Acres Memorial Chapel, 401 N. Hayden Rd, Scottsdale, AZ. Arrangements are be entrusted to Green Acres Mortuary and Cemetery (480)945-2654.