"Like a Comet
Blazing ‘cross the evening sky
Gone to soon
Like a rainbow
Fading in the twinkling of an eye
Gone too Soon…"
David Wylie was a native of New Zealand and joined the ACS Green Chemistry Institute® (ACS GCI) in 2011 as the Program Manager. For over ten years prior, he worked within the academia and industry sectors as an analytical and environmental chemist in South Carolina. He taught Chemistry, Physical Science, Environmental Science, and Physics at Georgetown High School in Georgetown, South Carolina and worked in research and development at Milliken Chemical. While at Milliken, he managed the company’s polymer additives laboratory and was honorably inducted into the Milliken Innovators Hall of Fame. During his tenure at ACS GCI, he continued to use this passion for education and innovation to make difference.
As the ACS GCI Program Manager, Dr. Wylie worked diligently to advance educational tools and opportunities for students interested in green chemistry and engineering; spearheaded green chemistry workshops for professionals and educators, and was an integral part of the Annual Green Chemistry & Engineering Conference series. He also had the opportunity to present at the 2012 Gordon Research Conference on Green Chemistry in Lucca, Italy and the 2012 International Conference on Chemical Education in Rome, Italy before suddenly passing in late September 2012. Though his untimely death was and still is difficult to accept, we continue to celebrate his life and the positive impact he left on the ACS GCI team.
Dr. Wylie was the epitome of a team player and an incredible colleague and friend to many. His passion, enthusiasm, and excitement for chemistry and teamwork exuded from him daily. He made chemistry exciting and was largely known for rallying students in a cheer of “Go Green Chemistry!” at ACS National Meetings. He was a tremendous asset to the ACS GCI team, and the bond we shared was unparalleled. He was by far, “Father of the Millennium” to his two loving children; Zealand and Sophie whom he loved more than anything.
Dr. Wylie was more than a colleague. He was our friend, our brother, and his legacy will live in our hearts forever.
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