Laura Gilliom died March 29, 2011, in Livermore, Calif. She was 52.
Born in Boston and raised in Memphis, Laura graduated as valedictorian of St. Mary’s Episcopal School in 1976. She earned her bachelor’s degree in chemistry summa cum laude and received a Ph.D. in chemistry from the California Institute of Technology in 1986. While at Princeton, Laura was a member of Charter Club.
Laura’s thesis work in Ring Opening Metathesis Polymerization (ROMP) was recognized as contributing to the 2005 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for her graduate adviser, Professor Robert Grubbs. Laura held various positions in national security at Sandia National Labs and Lawrence Livermore National Lab.
Laura lived in Albuquerque until moving to Livermore in 2001. She was active in the community, especially with Livermore Rotary and Expanding Your Horizons, an organization promoting science and math education for girls.
Laura leaves her husband of 27 years, Alan Sylwester; children Lauren and Rachel Sylwester; her mother, Patricia Gilliom; her sister and brother-in-law, Andrea and Ben Anderson; her mother- and father-in law, Alfred and Doris Sylwester; and many beloved nieces and nephews, extended family, and close friends. Her father, Richard Gilliom, and brother Bruce predeceased her. The class extends deepest condolences to her family and feels enriched to have crossed paths with Laura.