Verl Eugene McCoy Jr. ’55

When Dorothy Langston McCoy and Verl E. McCoy combined to produce Verl E. McCoy Jr. July 7, 1933, they could not have known that their son, after having led an exemplary life ending on the tennis court of the DuPont Country Club July 16, 2018, would have an exit reminiscent of the demise of Bing Crosby.

Gene was a chemistry major at Princeton. He joined Tower Club and lettered three times in 150-pound football. He went on to serve for three years in the Navy and then earned a Ph.D. in physical organic chemistry from Harvard.

A pioneering research scientist for DuPont from 1963 to 1998, Gene had an extensive civic-service record. Among other accomplishments, he served for 23 years on the planning board of New Castle County, receiving the Good Government Award from the Civic League for New Castle County in 1986. Gene was an elder of Trinity Presbyterian Church, a member of the ministry development and mission-service leadership teams, and an active member of the DuPont Country Club, golfing for many years and playing tennis three times a week. He loved photography and treasured opportunities for world travel.

Gene is survived by his high school sweetheart and wife of 60 years, Mary Lee Wetterholm McCoy; three daughters including Sharon ’82; five grandchildren; and two great-granddaughters.