Victor C. "Vic" Vaughen

1933 - 2021

Victor C. "Vic" Vaughen, 87, chemical engineer, music-lover and much-loved husband, father and grandfather, died Oct. 6, 2021, at Abington Hospital of postoperative complications. A celebration of Vic's life will be held at Foulkeways in Gwynedd, Pennsylvania, at a time when traveling becomes easier and most family members will be able to attend.
Born Oct. 8, 1933, in Wilmington, Delaware, Victor was the son of John Victor Vaughen and Charlotte Leicht Vaughen.
Vic, as he was known to family and friends, worked hard in physical and occupational therapies during the past four years, hoping to overcome multiple health problems. He remained optimistic and as active as he could to the end.
Vic was a problem-solver, noted for his genuine interest in other people, and was always willing to help in any way he could. He contributed in many ways to the life of the Foulkeways community, where he had lived for the past 14 years.
Vic grew up primarily in Woodstown, New Jersey, and DeLand. He graduated from George School, a Quaker high school in Newtown, Pennsylvania, in 1951.
He subsequently received bachelor's and master's degrees in chemistry from Stetson University, followed by a doctorate in chemical engineering from MIT.
In 1960, Vic began his professional career at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, where he did research to develop peaceful uses of nuclear energy. At ORNL, he became the director of the Office of Safety and Operational Readiness in the Chemical Technology Division, a position he held until his retirement in 1990.
Vic had a strong interest in ethics and was appointed to the Board of Governors of the National Institute of Engineering Ethics.
After retiring from ORNL, he became a family and divorce mediator and also served as a volunteer mediator for the Victim Offender Reconciliation Program of Anderson County, Tennessee.
Vic was passionate about making the world a better place through his research, his concerns about the ethics of technology and his belief in peaceful conflict resolution. Other passions in his life included music, woodworking and creating videos of travel adventures and special family events.
He played the viola in the Oak Ridge Symphony and spent countless hours in his workshop making furniture and toys with and for his children and grandchildren.
His love of the natural world encompassed camping, canoeing, hiking and bird-watching, and he supported organizations working for the conservation of our natural resources and the preservation of planet Earth.
Vic is survived by his wife of 30 years, Janet Wallace, and their blended family of six children, Leonard (Fran), Bruce (Ann), Eric (Anas), Rebecca (Dylan), Robin (Meg) and Jon (Anne); 10 grandchildren; his siblings, Justine Vaughen Fry and Daniel Vaughen and their families; and treasured relatives in Germany belonging to his mother's family of origin, with whom he kept in touch over the years.
Should you wish to make a charitable contribution in Vic's memory, please consider the Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) or the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF).