Ira Thorne Clement ’49

"CLEM" DIED Sun., Nov. 3, 1991, following a sudden heart attack. He and Mary had just returned to their home in Morgantown, Penn., after vacationing in Spain.

Clem was born Feb. 23, 1924, in Sunbury, Penn., and prepared for college at Sunbury H.S. During WWII he served as a first lieutenant in the Army Air Force, from Dec. 1942 to Nov. 1945, in the Pacific theater, and was awarded the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster. After entering Bucknell, he transferred to Princeton in Mar. 1946, At Princeton he majored in chemical engineering, was a member of the University choir and orchestra, managed the Student Bicycle Agency, and belonged to Quadrangle Club.

Following graduation, Clem worked for Rohm & Haas Co. in Huntsville, Ala., on development of solid propellants for rockets; moved on to DuPont, working on technologies for nylon and dacron, dies and pigments; and then joined the Pennsylvania Fluorocarbon Co. He retired in 1983 as V.P. of the former Penntube Plastics Company, after 24 years of service. Clem was active in church and civic organizations, was a member of the University Glee Club of Philadelphia, and served on Princeton's schools committees.

In addition to his widow, Mary Osborne Clement, Clem is survived by sons Christopher and John, and daughters Robin, Melissa and Dawn, from a previous marriage; a brother, David; one stepson and two stepdaughters, and their families. To all of them the Class extends its heartfelt sympathy at the loss of this very kind man.