John G. Pappas

John G. Pappas of New York and Bryn Mawr, Pa., one of the last living physicists of the Manhattan Project passed away at his home in his sleep at age 90 on March 4, 2011. He was born John George Pappas on Aug. 7, 1920 in Manhattan of Greek parents from Asia Minor. His parents Lucy and George Pappas (Papazoglou) arrived in New York in 1918 temporarily to manage the New York office of the family business, but never returned to their native Smyrna due to the outbreak of the Greek-Turkish war of 1919. He attended New York City public schools during the Depression, learning English in the first grade. He excelled academically and graduated from the prestigious Stuyvesant High School. He then went on to attend Columbia University, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Physics in 1943. After graduation as he was sitting on the steps of Low Library at Columbia, he was approached by his professor and recruited to be on the team of physicists for the top secret Manhattan Project. He relocated to the Oak Ridge, Tennessee compound where he along with other scientists, over the next two years, developed a filter to obtain high-grade uranium in the war effort. Due to the sensitive nature of the project, he was sworn to secrecy, unable to discuss his work even with his family for the next several years. It was here that he met his future wife Clara Gossett, who he would marry in 1952. He was awarded a certificate from the U.S. War Department Secretary of War for his essential work toward a successful conclusion of World War II in August 1945. At the end of the war, he returned to New York and turned his attention to chemical laboratory research, becoming a career chemist in the paint industry. As a chief chemist at Benjamin Moore and Company, he invented the first commercial exterior latex paint known as MoorGard in the 1970's, which is still sold today as well as several other latex paints such as MoorGlo. As we know today the development of latex paints is a major environmental contribution. During his career, the Society of Paint Technology recognized him for his scientific papers and contributions. He retired in 1982. In 2003, he moved to The Little Wyndham Estate in Bryn Mawr, Pa., to be with his family. He was predeceased by his wife Clara (1963) and his brother Christo (2003). He is survived by his daughter Dr. Diane Pappas-Sfedu, his son-in-law Dr. Emil P. Sfedu and his grandson Christopher W. Sfedu. His funeral service will be on Tuesday, March 15, at 10 a.m., at St. Luke's Greek Orthodox Church in Broomall, Pa. Viewing will be one hour prior to the service in church. Burial will be at The Woodlawn Cemetery in New York.