Dr. Richard Patrick Wool

Prof. Wool, age 67, of Newark, DE, passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, March 24, 2015. Born in Cork, Ireland, to Patrick and Nora Wool, he met his wife Deborah Fitzgerald Wool at University College Cork Ireland in 1969 and moved to the United States to marry the love of his life and start a family. During this time he also completed his B.Sc. in Chemistry (Honors Degree), Univ. College Cork Ireland (1970), plus his M.S. (1972) and Ph.D. in Materials Science & Eng. from the University of Utah (1974). After teaching at the University of New York and the University of Colorado, Richard and Deborah moved to the University of Illinois, where they lived for 18 years and started a family with their three daughters Sorcha, Meghan and Breeda. In 1995, the family moved to Delaware and Richard taught as a Professor of Chemical Engineering at the University of Delaware until his passing. Richard had many accomplishments throughout his personal and professional life. He brought great joy to everyone with his generosity, kindness, humor, music, wisdom, and love of life. A life-long sailor he treasured the times he could bring others with him to enjoy his favorite pastime. His guitar music sessions were special gifts enjoyed by many throughout the years. His daughters feel extremely grateful for such an incredible father, who always took care and time for them regardless of how busy he was with work. Some of his professional accomplishments include; winning the Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award plus being elected Fellow of both the Royal Society of Chemistry and the American Physical Society, Division of High Polymer Physics. He has published over 150 papers, written 2 books, and holds 4 patents. He was a guest Professor in the Physics Department, Trinity College Dublin, 2002, the Ecole Polytechnique, Condensed Matter Physics, Paris, France, 1991and the Politecnico DiMilano, Natta Laboratory, Milan, Italy, 1984. Richard is deeply loved by his wife, Deborah Fitzgerald Wool; daughters, Sorcha Wool Rocklein and husband Steve Rocklein of Miami, FL, Meghan Wool of Arlington, VA and Breeda Wool and partner Matt Friedman of Los Angeles, CA; sisters, Margaret Spencer and husband Richard Spencer of England and Chris Soltis and husband John of Salt Lake City, UT; and nieces and nephews, Dominic, Ciaran, Ian and Anna Spencer, Adrian Pattinson and Jacqui McLelland and John and Elizabeth Soltis. Services and interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Dr. Richard Wool Award for Women in Green Chemistry, c/o the University of Delaware Development Office, Development and Alumni Relations Gifts Receiving and Processing Office, 83 East Main Street, 3rd Floor, Newark, DE 19716.

Dr. Richard Patrick Wool

May 26, 1947 - March 24, 2015