Memorial James R. Blizzard ’42

Bliz was a graduate of Glen-Nor High School in Glenolden, Pa. At Princeton he roomed with Bill Bingham and was active in intramural soccer and club basketball. He joined Key and Seal, majored in chemical engineering, and graduated with honors.

Bliz was one of those members of ’42 recruited after graduation to work for the government on war-related research. Bob was sent to the Hanford Engineering Works in Washington State to participate in the Manhattan Project. His job was to assist in the chemical separation of plutonium. He finally realized that his job had been done when he emerged from isolation at Hanford and read in the newspapers about the explosion at Hiroshima.

After the war, Bob worked on a variety of engineering projects, including development of the tire cord Orlon, skins for hot dogs, and sterilizable medical-packaging material. His intelligence and restless spirit drove him from one challenge to another. He and his wife, Dee, finally settled in Thornton, Colo.

Bob is survived by Dee and their children, J. Scott Blizzard and Susan Spatafora. To them, the class sends condolences.