Ian Murray Croll

1929 - 2015

Ian Murray Croll
Dec. 7, 1929 — July 28, 2015
Resident of Pacific Grove
Ian Croll was born in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. He received his early education in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree and continued graduate work at the University of Manitoba, Harvard University and UCLA, earning a PhD in physical chemistry.
Dr. Croll worked most of his career as a chemist at IBM in various professional and executive positions. He developed the process for magnetic recording media used on board Titan missiles for the initial Mercury space program. He also directed and carried out original research leading to the development of the thin film and magnetoresistive recording heads used in nearly all personal and other computers.
Dr. Croll was the author of numerous technical publications and patents, and was also a member of Sigma Xi, the American Association for the Advancement of Science and a member of the IBM Academy of Technology.
He was an active member of St. Mary's by-the-Sea Episcopal Church, a member of the Institute of Electronic and Electrical Engineers, the American Chemical Society and the Electrochemical Society where he was national chairman of the Electrodeposition Section and Vice Chairman of the Electronics section.
Dr. Croll is survived by his beloved wife Gloria of Pacific Grove; son John Croll of Cupertino; son Brian Croll of Los Altos; sister Marian Mathews of Winnipeg and grandchildren Sara, Robert, Dylan and Duncan.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, August 8, 2015 at 2 p.m. at St. Mary's by-the-Sea Episcopal Church, 146 Twelfth Street, Pacific Grove, CA.