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Gerald Gibbs Obituary
June 28, 1928 - September 19, 2024
Dr. Gerald V. Gibbs, PhD, Professor Emeritus of Mineralogy at Virginia Tech, passed away Sept. 19, 2024, after a long career as a world-renowned scientist, researcher, outstanding teacher, loving husband, and father. After service in WW2, he used the GI Bill to further his academic pursuits and attend the University of New Hampshire (BS), University of Tennessee (MS), and Penn State (PhD). His lifelong passion for learning, teaching, and advancing the science of crystallography made him a leading expert in the field, particularly on silicon dioxide (SIO2). He earned several prestigious awards, including the Roebling Medal for outstanding mineralogy research, the Bevlov Medal for advances in mathematical crystallography, the Jefferson Award for contributions to natural science, and the Scientist of the Year Award in Virginia. He also had a mineral, Jerrygibbsite, named in his honor.
Dr. Gibbs held visiting professor roles worldwide and contributed to advancements in science and industry, including the development of the catalytic converter. He was a Fellow of the Mineralogical Society of America, American Geophysical Union, and Academy of Arts and Sciences.
He was predeceased by his wife, Nancy, and is survived by his companion Joan Campbell, four children (Jason, Joel, Rachel Pfab, and Elliot), and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Gerald V. Gibbs Research Scholarship Fund at the Mineralogical Society of America.
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Memories and Condolences
for Gerald Gibbs
Sponsored by Woody Funeral Home Huguenot Chapel.
1 Entry
Wendy Hart Beckman
October 28, 2024
Dr. GIbbs was a great teacher. Since I had transferred in from a small college, I had never met a real human being who had a mineral in his or her name. I was in awe. I also thought he was funny when he talked about his tattoo. He would never roll his sleeves all the way up because he didn't want to expose it. Now I'll never know what it was -- but I can guess!
Wendy Hart (Nielson) Beckman, geology, 1980
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