Sidney Lee Vail

VAIL Sidney Lee Vail, PhD, died December 29, 2004, at Our Lady of the Lake Hospital in Baton Rouge following heart by-pass surgery. He was 76 years old. Dr. Vail was a native of New Orleans, the son of the late Rev. Sidney Lee and Mabel Moore Vail. He was a graduate of Fortier High School, Tulane University, and Louisiana State University. Dr. Vail, was a research chemist with Dow Chemical, Freeport, Texas and American Cyanamid, Fortier plant. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War doing classified research at the Army Chemical Center, Edgewood, MD. Dr. Vail worked for 30 years with the USDA, Southern Regional Research Center in New Orleans. He was a research leader and laboratory chief working in cotton textile chemistry, crop protection, and applied spectroscopy. His research resulted in 29 patents, 165 publications, and 200 technical presentations in the United Stated, Europe, and Asia. He lived in River Ridge, Louisiana until 2001 when he moved to Baton Rouge. He was a member of American Chemical Society, AATCC, Kappa Sigma, Alpha Chi Sigma, All Saints Episcopal Church, River Ridge, and St. James Episcopal Church, Baton Rouge. He was a member of Paradise Community Club in River Ridge, where he played tennis. His other passions were gardening and playing with his grandchildren. He was a volunteer chemist with the Louisiana State University Chemistry Department and taught a Lagniappe class on the Industrial Corridor. Survivors include his wife of 51 years, Margaret Smith Vail, one son, Richard Lee Vail and his wife, Maite, three daughters, Mary Kathleen Vail, Fay Vail Lachney and husband, Fred, and Ann Vail Shaneyfelt and husband, Max. Nine grandchildren, Benjamin Mabry, Emily Mabry, Kathryn Mabry, William Vail, Jon Vail, Rebecca Novak, Michael Novak, Ian Shaneyfelt, Evan Shaneyfelt. A Memorial Service will be held at St. James Church in Baton Rouge on Monday, January 3, 2005 at 10:00 AM. In lieu of flowers, make donations to the American Heart Assoc., the LSU College of Basic Sciences, or your favorite charity.