Obituary of Robert Gander

Robert J. Gander, Ph.D., an organic chemist, died on Saturday, February 9, 2008. He was 89. Born in Eagle River, Wisconsin, he was the husband of Hilda Gander of Whitehouse, New Jersey and the son of Walter and Rose Gander. He earned a B.S. in Chemistry at the University of Wisconsin, where he was Phi Beta Kappa. He earned his M.S. in Organic Chemistry at the same university, and in 1944 he received his Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from the University of Illinois. Post-doctoral work on the Rubber Reserve synthetic program at Illinois followed. Dr. Gander supported the war effort by review of technical documents obtained from German scientific sources as the American forces advanced through Europe. His research during World War II also aided the development of synthetic rubber in this country as the natural rubber supplies in Southeast Asia were cut off during this period. After a five year stint which saw him ultimately serve as the Supervisor in Raw Material Development for Firestone Tire and Rubber Company in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, Dr. Gander joined Johnson & Johnson in North Brunswick, New Jersey in 1950 as a Senior Chemist in the Surgical Adhesives Section. Over the next thirty-seven years until his retirement in 1987, he won several awards and promotions. He became Manager of Polymer Research in 1967, and in 1978 he was singularly honored when he was appointed the first Senior Research Fellow in the history of Johnson & Johnson Research and Development. Dr. Gander was widely respected for his scientific knowledge and proven laboratory leadership. He held in excess of 40 patents, and in 1965 he was awarded the Johnson Gold Medal for his outstanding work in the development of acrylic copolymer adhesives. This important research resulted in improvements in the adhesive quality of the Band-Aid, which is commonly used in this country and around the world. Dr. Gander was considered a renaissance man by his family and friends because of his many interests. He was an accomplished French horn player who played in many bands and orchestras throughout his life, including the University of Wisconsin marching band, and more recently, the Raritan Valley Symphonic Band. He was an avid golfer as well as an outdoorsman, skilled at ruffed grouse hunting, and a successful fisherman for smallmouth bass and walleye pike, a sometimes-elusive fish. After his retirement from Johnson & Johnson, he remained active in the Mathematical Association of America, the American Chemical Society (a 67-year member), and the Theodore Roosevelt Association. Dr. Gander approached all his endeavors with a dedication and attention to detail that was a source of personal satisfaction, and an inspiration to his co-workers and two sons Mark and Malcolm, both successful professionals in the fields of audio engineering and geochemistry, respectively. Dr. Gander is survived by his wife Hilda of 59 years; his sister Carol Gander Larson of Los Angeles, California; and his two sons, Mark of Topanga, California, and Malcolm of Bainbridge Island, Washington, and their families. Dr. Ganders brother, James, was a long-time resident of Appleton, Wisconsin, until his passing in 2003. A celebration of his life will be held at the Whitehouse United Methodist Church, 73 Old Highway, Whitehouse on June 29th 2008 at 1:00 PM. Immediately following at 2:00 PM there will be a reception at the Fox Hollow Golf Club, Fox Chase Run, Branchburg, NJ. Memorial donations may be made to the church, P.O. Box 190, Whitehouse, NJ 08888 or a charity of the donors choice. Online condolences can be sent to the Kearns Funeral Home www.kearnsfuneralhome.com.