Paul G. Gassman

Paul Gassman (1935-1993) was an American chemist. He is best known for his research in the field of organic chemistry and his service as president of the American Chemical Society and is listed among notable alumni by the Cornell University Graduate School.^[1]

Biography

Born Paul George Gassman on June 22, 1935 in Alden, New York, Gassman is the son of Joseph Martin Gassman and Florence Marie Rautenstrauch Gassman, of German Swiss parentage. In 1957, he graduated with a B.S. degree in Chemistry from Canisius College in Buffalo, New York and received his Ph.D. in three years from Cornell University in 1960, where he studied under Jerrold Meinwald.^[2] He continued at Cornell as a postdoctoral fellow before his appointment as an Assistant Professor of Chemistry at the Ohio State University. After becoming a full professor at Ohio State in 1969, Gassman brought his research to the University of Minnesota in 1974.^[3] Leading organic chemistry research at the University of Minnesota until 1993, Gassman's work centered in the areas of organic reaction mechanisms (including the Gassman indole synthesis), mechanisms of catalysis (including hydrocarbon metathesis), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, cyclo-addition reactions, enzyme mechanisms, organoelectro-chemistry, carbanion chemistry, synthesis of heterocyclic molecules, oxidation of hydrocarbons, nitrenium ion chemistry, and electron-transfer reactions.^[4] This work helped him achieve status as an internationally recognized chemist.^[5] serving the American Chemical Society as Chairman of the Division of Organic Chemistry (1981) and eventually as President of the American Chemical Society in 1990.^[6]

Publications

Gassman's research resulted in over 300 publications in scientific journals, 33 patents,^[3] and 11 books.^[2] He received recognition as a Fulbright Scholar (1988), membership in both the National Academy of Sciences (1989) and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (1992), and his notable awards included the Chemical Pioneers Award of the American Institute of Chemists (1990), and the National Catalyst Award of the Chemical Manufacturers Association (1990). In 1989, he was elected to the presidency of the 138,000-member American Chemical Society.^[7] The day he assumed office was declared "Paul Gassman Day" in Minnesota by Governor Arne H. Carlson.^[8] In his service as President of the A.C.S., Gassman said it was his mission to show “the population at large that chemistry has been extremely beneficial, that they are living longer because of chemistry, and that they are living better because of chemistry”^[7]

Death

Gassman died at age 57 on April 21, 1993 from complications during heart surgery. The American Chemical Society recognized his service by creating the Paul G. Gassman Distinguished Service Award,^[9] granted for outstanding service in the organic chemical community. Both the University of Minnesota, through the Paul G. Gassman Lectureship in Chemistry ^[10] and Canisius College through the Gassman Memorial Seminar Series^[11] host chemistry lecture series in his honor.

References