1930
Rudolph
2013
Rudolph Abraham Abramovitch
July 19, 1930 — November 26, 2013
Dr. Rudolph Abramovitch, 83, of Clemson, SC, died Tuesday, November 26, 2013, at his home, after a long struggle with Alzheimer's disease.
He was born and grew up in Alexandria, Egypt. At age 16, he enrolled in the then Farouk University, graduating as top student while at the same time gaining a first class honors B.Sc. from London University External in Special Chemistry. He completed his Ph.D. at the University of London, King's College, followed by a D.Sc. from the University of London. His professional career then took him to the Weizmann Institute in Israel, followed by an appointment to the University of Saskatchewan in 1958, where he was very active in the Chemical Institute of Canada, eventually serving as the Chairman of the Organic Division of the national body.
He moved to the University of Alabama in the late sixties, where he built up a world-class, diverse research group. In 1977, he came to Clemson University as the head of the Department of Chemistry and Geology, where he served in this role until 1981. In 1983, he was a Fulbright Fellow in France. He continued his tenure as professor of organic chemistry at Clemson until his retirement in 2005.
Dr. Abramovitch, with his many excellent co-workers, was at the forefront of research in many new areas of chemistry, resulting in over 300 papers and book chapters. He also served on the editorial boards of several prestigious chemistry journals. He was an active member of the American Chemical Society.
He received the Clemson University Sigma Xi Award for Outstanding Research in 1981, and the Alumni Award for Outstanding Achievement in Research in 2006. In 2001, a commemorative issue of the Archive for Organic Chemistry was published in honor of his 70th birthday.
Rudy was an avid traveller. He enjoyed sports, fishing, playing soccer in his youth and tennis during later years. He loved classical music and reading, which meant that his children grew up in houses full of records and books.
In addition to his wife, Dorota Abramovitch, he is survived by a son, Daniel Abramovitch (Susan Alters), of Palo Alto, CA; two daughters, Paula Porter (Robert) of Central, SC, and Anna Holbrook (John) of Atlanta, GA; his brother Michael Ram (Edna) of Buffalo, NY; and six grandsons. He was preceded in death by his parents, Lazar and Elise Ram, his first wife, Lillian Green, and by his son, Michael.
The family would like to thank Dr. David Liebman of Clemson Health Center, Dr. Katie Hanna and the staff of Hospice of the Upstate, and numerous caregivers for the care and support given to Rudy and his family throughout his illness.
The family will receive colleagues, students and friends at their home at 257 Riggs Drive in Clemson on Monday, December 2nd, between 6 and 8 pm.
Private funeral services will take place in Tuscaloosa, AL.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the MUSC Kidney Transplant Center, 162 Ashley Avenue, MSC 586, Charleston, SC 29425 or the local chapter of the SC Alzheimer's Association, 4124 Clemson Blvd ? Ste L, Anderson, SC 29621.
He was born and grew up in Alexandria, Egypt. At age 16, he enrolled in the then Farouk University, graduating as top student while at the same time gaining a first class honors B.Sc. from London University External in Special Chemistry. He completed his Ph.D. at the University of London, King's College, followed by a D.Sc. from the University of London. His professional career then took him to the Weizmann Institute in Israel, followed by an appointment to the University of Saskatchewan in 1958, where he was very active in the Chemical Institute of Canada, eventually serving as the Chairman of the Organic Division of the national body.
He moved to the University of Alabama in the late sixties, where he built up a world-class, diverse research group. In 1977, he came to Clemson University as the head of the Department of Chemistry and Geology, where he served in this role until 1981. In 1983, he was a Fulbright Fellow in France. He continued his tenure as professor of organic chemistry at Clemson until his retirement in 2005.
Dr. Abramovitch, with his many excellent co-workers, was at the forefront of research in many new areas of chemistry, resulting in over 300 papers and book chapters. He also served on the editorial boards of several prestigious chemistry journals. He was an active member of the American Chemical Society.
He received the Clemson University Sigma Xi Award for Outstanding Research in 1981, and the Alumni Award for Outstanding Achievement in Research in 2006. In 2001, a commemorative issue of the Archive for Organic Chemistry was published in honor of his 70th birthday.
Rudy was an avid traveller. He enjoyed sports, fishing, playing soccer in his youth and tennis during later years. He loved classical music and reading, which meant that his children grew up in houses full of records and books.
In addition to his wife, Dorota Abramovitch, he is survived by a son, Daniel Abramovitch (Susan Alters), of Palo Alto, CA; two daughters, Paula Porter (Robert) of Central, SC, and Anna Holbrook (John) of Atlanta, GA; his brother Michael Ram (Edna) of Buffalo, NY; and six grandsons. He was preceded in death by his parents, Lazar and Elise Ram, his first wife, Lillian Green, and by his son, Michael.
The family would like to thank Dr. David Liebman of Clemson Health Center, Dr. Katie Hanna and the staff of Hospice of the Upstate, and numerous caregivers for the care and support given to Rudy and his family throughout his illness.
The family will receive colleagues, students and friends at their home at 257 Riggs Drive in Clemson on Monday, December 2nd, between 6 and 8 pm.
Private funeral services will take place in Tuscaloosa, AL.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the MUSC Kidney Transplant Center, 162 Ashley Avenue, MSC 586, Charleston, SC 29425 or the local chapter of the SC Alzheimer's Association, 4124 Clemson Blvd ? Ste L, Anderson, SC 29621.
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