DR. ROBERT L. FELLER

FELLER DR. ROBERT L.

On Thursday, August 2, 2018, Dr. Robert L. Feller. Born on December 27, 1919 in Linden, New Jersey, he was the only child of William H. and Edna Buchelew Feller; he is survived by a niece, Dr. Barbara A. Kammer and the late Dr. James F. Kammar; as well as cousins and great nephews; his beloved wife, Ruth Johnston Feller, preceded him in death. His life-long love of painting began in childhood. As a student at Dartmouth College he contributed his drawings to the Jack-O-Lantern (a student comic publication), becoming the art editor his senior year. Graduate School at Rutgers was interrupted by serving in the U.S. Navy during WWII. He completed his PhD in organic chemistry in 1950 at Rutgers prior to establishing a research lab at Mellon Institute with the support of the National Gallery of Art and the Mellon Foundation. Dr Feller's long career of research in this lab, focusing on evaluation of artist's paints, papers and varnishes, led to over 100 publications, some of which were republished in 2002 in a collection edited by Paul M. Whitmore entitled Contributions to Conservation Science. He received the Robert L. Feller Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011 in Philadelphia given by the American Institute of Conservation. His love of painting remained through his lifetime. While his work took him over much of the world, he would find time to paint while there. The results are treasures to many. Dr. Feller will be remembered as a modest, kind and humble man, loved by many, as well as for his many contributions to establish the science of the restoration and preservation of art objects worldwide. Friends will be received at JOHN A. FREYVOGEL SONS, INC. (freyvogelfuneralhome.com), 4900 Centre Avenue at Devonshire Street, on Monday from 9-10:30 a.m. followed by a Funeral Service in the Homewood Cemetery Chapel at 11 a.m.