Bert Tolbert

1921 - 2021

Bert Mills Tolbert passed away peacefully in Boulder, Colorado on July 19, 2021 at the age of 100. Bert was born on January 15, 1921 in Twin Falls, Idaho to parents Helen Mills Tolbert and Edward Nathan Tolbert.

Bert had a long and adventurous life, filled with the love of family and friends and marked by a distinguished career as an academic biochemist. He was brought up on a farm in Twin Falls and went to school in a rural three-room schoolhouse where his mother Helen was one of the teachers. Bert was extraordinarily resourceful, even from a young age. His mother relates how when there was a fire in the kitchen, before she knew it, 4-year old Bert calmly found a watering can, filled it with water, and doused the fire. In high school, when serving as president of the Science Club, he was nicknamed "The Professor," a moniker that he proceeded to make a reality later in life as a professor of chemistry at the University of Colorado. He was educated at Idaho State University in Pocatello, and then University of California, Berkeley where he received his PhD in 1944 while working on the Manhattan Project, which later contributed to his belief that nuclear energy could be harnessed for the good of humankind. From 1944 to 1957, he worked at the Lawrence Radiation Laboratory, later known as the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, serving as the Assistant Director of Melvin Calvin's famous Laboratory of Chemical Biodynamics. In 1957 Bert embarked on his academic career as a professor of chemistry at U. of Colorado in Boulder, where he was known for his innovative research on ascorbic acid and on the use of carbon 14 isotopes. He was also recognized as an inspiring teacher and distinguished leader, serving as Associate Chair of the Chemistry Department.
Bert served on the board of directors for Hauser Chemical Research, was visiting professor at the International Atomic Energy Agency in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and was a long-time consultant for the U.S. Department of Energy at the Los Alamos National Laboratory and other locations.
Bert met the love of his life, Anne Grace Zweifler, at the University of California, Berkeley in the lab of Melvin Calvin. They were married and shortly thereafter moved to Boulder. Hoping to recreate his farm life in a small way, Bert bought an acre of land on the edge of an apple orchard on Kalmia Avenue (then a dirt road), and Bert and Anne settled down to bring up their family in a beautiful and friendly neighborhood in the shadow of Mt. Sanitas.

Bert will be remembered for his cheerful demeanor, caring disposition, boundless energy, and incredible enthusiasm for life. He loved outdoor pursuits such as skiing, mountain climbing, and hiking, and could often be found tinkering around the house fixing anything and everything. His vegetable garden was the pride of the neighborhood, and he was an avid watch collector and member of the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors. He was also an active member of the Silver Lake Ditch Association, beloved by neighbors up and down the lateral. He was always up for an adventure, working as a visiting scientist at various times in Switzerland, Argentina, Washington, DC, and New Jersey. In their later years, he and Anne traveled the world, spent many pleasant winters exploring the beautiful desert landscapes of Palm Springs, and enjoyed time with their children and grandchildren.
Bert was kind, patient, and a friend to everyone he met. Above all, he was a loving husband, father, and grandfather, passing on his joie de vivre and wisdom to his grateful family. He is survived by his wife of more than six decades Anne Grace Tolbert, four daughters, Elizabeth Tolbert, Margaret Tolbert, Caroline Tolbert, and Sarah Tolbert, and nine grandchildren. His kindness, deep insights into the nature of world, and boundless enthusiasm live on in the hearts of everyone who has known him.

In lieu of flowers, gifts can be made to TRU Hospice, Boulder or to the Department of Chemistry at the University of Colorado, Boulder. Please make checks payable to "University of Colorado Foundation" with a memo indicating that the gift is for the CU Boulder Chemistry Department Fund #0121019 in memory of Bert Tolbert, and mail to CU Foundation, PO Box 17126, Denver, CO 80217-9155. Gifts can also be made online at giving.cu.edu to this same fund.