Dr. John P. Fackler Jr.

1934 - 2023

John P. Fackler Jr.

July 31, 1934 - February 25, 2023

John was born in Toledo, Ohio, the eldest of three sons born to the Reverend John P. Fackler and Ruth Eleanor Moehring Fackler. He graduated in 1952 from DeVilbiss High School in Toledo and spent his first year in college at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In 1953, he transferred to Valparaiso University in Indiana and graduated with a B.A. in Chemistry, Physics, and Mathematics. It was at Valparaiso that he met his wife, Naomi Steege.

In 1956, after marrying Naomi, John returned to MIT where he completed his PhD in Inorganic Chemistry in 1960. His first academic position was Assistant Professor at the University of California-Berkeley from 1960-62. From 1962 until 1983 John served the department of Chemistry at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, eventually serving as Department Head, and later rising to the distinguished title of Teagle Professor in 1978. In 1977, he took a brief sabbatical to accept the John Simon Guggenheim Fellowship at Sidney Sussex College at Cambridge University, England. He and his family spent six months living in Great Shelford village near the Cam River.

While in Cleveland he received many professional honors, was actively involved in St. John's Lutheran Church and the Cleveland Lutheran High School Association, and helped raise a loving family of five children.

In 1983, John accepted a position as the Dean of the College of Science at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas. He served in that role until 1992, leaving the deanship to focus on research and teaching as a Distinguished Professor of Chemistry. He was the first Texas A&M dean to be named a Distinguished Professor, in 1987. He officially retired in 2006, but remained active in the University until the time of his passing. During their time in College Station, John and Naomi were active members of Our Saviour's Lutheran Church.

Throughout his illustrious professional career, John was bestowed a myriad of accolades and honors, authored numerous scientific books and professional articles, and actively pursued his research passion in gold chemistry.

John enjoyed working with students at all levels. He lectured to gifted high school students in Cleveland, guided over 25 undergraduate research scholars and was a Dreyfuss Senior Mentor after formal retirement. He guided the research of over 80 PhD. and MSc. students throughout his long career. He gave many endowed lectures including to the National Science Teachers Association (1976), the Robert Welch Foundation (1992), and was the Texas A&M University Distinguished Faculty Lecturer (2000). He lectured at universities in every US state and in over 15 foreign countries. He held funded appointments at Universidad de Bogota, and Universidad de Bucaramanga in Colombia, Indiana University, University of California Santa Barbara, Cambridge University, and the Technical University of Munich.

After formal retirement in 2006, John taught on a part-time basis with research support and closed his laboratory in 2014 when he and Naomi moved to The Woodlands, Texas. They became active at Lord of Life Lutheran Church in The Woodlands, singing in the choir, teaching bible class, and serving on committees. John was active in the Woodlands Rotary Club and spent many years on the Council of the Resident's Association of the Forum where they lived, including three years as president.

Besides travel, which both he and Naomi enjoyed, John was an avid golfer at The Woodlands Country Club, "shooting his age" more than a few times, enjoying many rounds with his golf buddies from church and the community, as well as with his son and grandson. He enjoyed fishing, especially fly fishing, reading nonfiction literature, and listening to classical music. He rarely missed a golf tournament on television. A good glass of wine, single malt or Irish whiskey, or a dry martini with a lemon twist were always welcome.

John was preceded in death by his loving wife of nearly 62 years, Naomi Paula Fackler; and his daughter, Cheryl Ruth Fackler Hug. He will be greatly missed by his surviving children, Dr. Kathy Fackler Chapman (M. John), Karla Fackler Grafton (David), Dr. John Fackler (Lee), and Dori Fackler; as well as grandchildren, Jenna Chapman, Ian Chapman (Sasha Sidmore), Nicholas Hug (Naomi Pacalin), Colin Hug (Natalie), Andrew Grafton (Fatemeh Abdollahi), Rebekah Grafton, Dan Grafton, Ava Fackler, and Owen Fackler.

A memorial service will be held at Lord of Life Lutheran Church in The Woodlands, Texas, on Friday, March 3, at 11 a.m. A service of committal will follow at 2:30 p.m., at Klein Memorial Park in Magnolia.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Lord of Life Lutheran Church, The Rotary Club of The Woodlands Foundation or Valparaiso University (please designate either: The Reverend Martin Th. Steege Endowed Scholarship Fund, or the John and Naomi Fackler Lectureship in Chemistry and English).