Carl George Krespan

Carl George Krespan, age 93, passed away on October 22, 2019 in Hockessin, DE.

He was born in August 1926 in Erie, PA and was the son of the late Arthur P. Krespan and Rose Gehrlein Krespan.

Carl received an honorable discharge from the US Navy in 1946. He graduated from the University of Rochester with a BS degree in chemistry in 1948 and received his PhD in organic chemistry from the University of Minnesota in 1952. He then moved to the Central Research and Development Labs at DuPont for over forty years until his retirement.

During his career, Carl published over 75 papers, book chapters and reviews. He had 99 patents issued in his name. His main area of expertise was fluorocarbon and fluoropolymer chemistry. He was the recipient of numerous awards including the Pedersen Award in 1995, a preeminent honor for a scientist, the Outstanding Achievement Award from University of Minnesota in 2001, a national award from the American Chemical Society (ACS), Fluorine Division Award for Creative Work in Fluorine Chemistry in 1987, and elected twice to the Chairmanship of the ACS Division of Fluorine Chemistry, and the Outstanding Performance Award in 1988. He was described as a man of high integrity, very disciplined and exceptionally creative.

Besides his parents, Carl was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy Bentley Krespan and his brothers, Arthur and Thomas. He is survived by his daughter, Barbara Krespan (Gindin), sons Charles and William, daughter-in-laws, Leisa and Patti and six grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggest contributions in his memory to Ashland Nature Center, c/o Delaware Nature Society, P.O. Box 700, Hockessin, DE 19707.

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Funeral Services

A Celebration of Life will be held at 2 pm on Saturday, November 9, 2019 at the Cokesbury Village Retirement in Hockessin where friends and family may visit from 1 to 2 pm.

Condolences

Nancy Nelson lit a candle and writes,

For the last few years of her life, my mother, Julia Decker, enjoyed a close friendship with your father, Carl, while they lived at Cokesbury. They met with friends for dinner and a few glasses of wine every night, and loved to laugh and share stories of their families. While this represented such a very tiny ‘slice’ of Carl’s amazing life, it meant a lot to us that they were able to find companionship at what could have been a lonely time in their lives. He was such a kind, caring, intelligent man who faced his last years with joy and humor. We can only imagine the sense of loss you and your family are feeling, but we hope this soon becomes a sense of comfort in a life so well lived. I know he will be greatly missed. Please extend our sincere condolences to your family.

11/01/2019 08:14 am

Carol Johnson Dickson writes,

Dear Barbara, Charles and William and extended families: I received a call from our Aunt Jean Bentley Jones yesterday and she told me of Uncle Carl's passing. I am so sorry for your loss. Had I known I would have attended his service. He was a wonderful man and Uncle. I remember, with a smile on my face, the many times your Mom and Dad would take me to Delaware with them for a weeks vacation during the summers after coming to Pulaski for a visit with Nana. One summer in particular your father came out of the house to sit on the porch and had a rather large book in his hand. I asked him "What is that?" He answered this is my summer read while I'm here, it was "War and Peace". I was in awe of him even then. I will miss him, but, will always have wonderful memories of him as well as your Mom. With love to all, Carol

12/02/2019 09:43 pm

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