Obituaries

Recent Obituaries
In Memoriam Archive

Discoverer of Radiopolarography and Nobel Prize Winner

Daniel L. Love ’50

Feb. 8, 2024, in Portland, from Parkinson’s disease.

Dan was born in Portland, where he attended Grant High School, set a new state record for the 440-yard dash, and met the love of his life, Yvonne Nielsen.

Dan earned an undergraduate degree in chemistry from Reed. His thesis, “Vapor Pressures of Silver Amalgams,” was written under Prof. Arthur F. Scott [chemistry 1923–26 and 1937–79]. Dan subsequently received his master’s degree in chemistry from the University of Portland, a teaching assistantship in physical chemistry at the University of Texas, and a PhD in fuel chemistry at Pennsylvania State University.

In 1955, Dan became a radiochemist at the Naval Radiological Defense Laboratory in San Francisco. He is credited with the discovery of radiopolarography, an achievement so noteworthy that the 1959 Nobel Prize in Chemistry cited the importance of his work.

Dan went on to become the head of the radiochemistry and nuclear chemistry branches of the Naval Surface Weapons Center. When he later became the center’s director of basic research, he supervised over 100 scientists.

After retiring in 1984, he moved back to Portland. For 30 years, he taught chemistry and physics at Reed, Linfield, Marylhurst, and the Oregon Graduate Institute. He also served as an instructor at Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue and volunteered 7,500 hours at Meridian Park Medical Center with Yvonne.

Dan was predeceased by Yvonne, to whom he was married for 70 years. He is survived by his daughter, Carolyn, and his son, David.

Appeared in Reed magazine: Summer 2024

comments powered by Disqus