James A. Chmiel ’61

Jim Chmiel died of cancer Jan. 29, 2006, at Alle-Kiski Medical Center in Natrona Heights, Pa.

Born in 1939 in nearby New Kensington, he lived there for most of his life, moving only recently to Vandegrift, Pa.

A graduate of New Kensington High School, he majored in chemistry at Princeton. He was president of the Chemistry Club and was a member of Terrace Club, the University Band, and the German Club. He went on to earn a Ph.D. in chemistry at Northwestern and subsequently taught at Louisiana State University, later returning to western Pennsylvania. We know little of his life after that, except that, according to his brother, Tom, some stability returned after he joined Alcoholics Anonymous about a decade before his death. We can only wish that we had known him better.

Never married, Jim is survived by his brothers, Thomas and Edward, and their families; several nieces; and a nephew. We join them in mourning his passing.