Ronald Rich

RONALD RICH

BLUFFTON — Ronald Lee Rich, 87, of Bluffton, Ohio, died on Nov. 28,2014 from complications from prostate cancer. He was born on March 29, 1927 in Washington, Illinois to Rufus J. and Lillian (Lantz) Rich. He is survived by his wife, Elaine, of Bluffton; son Jonathan (Tai) of Union City, California; son Andrew (Sally) of North Manchester, Indiana; daughter Miriam (James Brown) of Blacksburg, Virginia; son Mark (Kathy) of Yellow Springs, Ohio; six grandchildren; sister Lois Smucker (Len) of Ashland, Oregon; and sister Mary Blosser of Bluffton.

At school he excelled in math and science. His senior year in high school, 1945, he was chosen as one of the top forty students in the country in the Westinghouse Science Talent Search and won a trip to Washington, D.C. where he met Harry Truman and Eleanor Roosevelt.

He graduated from Bluffton College in 1948 and received his Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of Chicago, where he had famous professors such as Enrico Fermi, Willard Libby, Harold Urey, and Edward Teller. His advisor, Henry Taube, later won a Nobel Prize in chemistry and considered Ronald Rich to be one of his best students ever. Two days after receiving his degree, June 14, 1953, he married Elaine Sommers.

He was a chemistry professor at Bethel College in Kansas from 1953 to 1966. Four children were born during these years. In 1966 he. moved to Tokyo, Japan where he was a professor at International Christian University. With various leaves, he was there until 1979 when he came to Bluffton University. Time in Japan included distressing confrontations with violent student Marxists. Over the years, he taught or did research at Los Alamos Laboratories, the National Bureau of Standards, and the Universities of Utah, Harvard, Kansas, Kansas State, Stanford, Illinois, Oregon, and North Carolina State.

He inspired many students over the years. An endowed chemistry scholarship at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis was created in his honor by one of his former students.

He published many articles in chemistry journals and was the author of several books: Periodic Correlations (1965); a series of books for Japanese scientists on writing science papers in English (1976); and Inorganic Reactions in Water, (2007).

Besides science, Ron was always keenly interested in world affairs, promoting human rights, classical music, learning languages, riding his bicycle, conserving resources, debating issues with friends and family, and trying new things. He was an amateur astronomer and an avid member of the Lima Astronomical Society who loved helping others see the amazing wonders of creation through his telescope.

He was baptized into the Mennonite church at age 12 and his faith was a guide throughout his life. A memorial service to celebrate his life will be held at 11 a.m. on Dec. 20 at First Mennonite Church, Bluffton. The family will receive friends from 9:30 am until the time of service. Memorials may be given to Bridge Hospice of Findlay. Online condolences may be expressed at www.chiles-lamanfh.com.