George L. Gilbert, Ph.D.

George Lewis Gilbert, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus of Chemistry at Denison University passed away Wednesday, May 13, 2015 at Licking Memorial Hospital in Newark. He was born in 1933 to the late Joseph W. and Priscilla F. Gilbert in Abington, Mass.

After earning a B.S. degree from Antioch College in 1958, George attended Michigan State University where he completed his Ph.D. in Chemistry, and joined Denison University's faculty in 1964. Dr. Gilbert loved to teach, and his special field of interest was developing and promoting the use of chemical demonstrations in education. He was the editor of the American Chemical Society's Journal of Chemical Education column on Tested Demonstrations for more than 20 years. He published an 804-page two-volume collection, entitled "Tested Demonstrations in Chemistry and Selected Demonstrations from the Journal of Chemical Education." At Denison, Dr. Gilbert was the first director of the Learning Resource Center, directed the Science Semester at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and founded the "Investigations in the Sciences" summer science program for high school students. In 1985 he embarked on a 15,500 mile train trip to 41 colleges to exhibit his classroom "chemistry kits" to help enrich science educators across the nation. George also developed, conducted, and taught chemical demonstrations for others to perform at the Center of Science and Industry in Columbus.

An exceptionally loving husband, father, and grandfather, George enjoyed playing bridge, canoeing, camping and fishing with his family. Civically, he volunteered with The Works, the Granville PTO, Granville Recreation Commission, Friends of the Granville Library, Dawes Arboretum, and was a member of First Presbyterian Church, where he served as an Elder.

George will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 53 years, Marilyn A. Gilbert; children and their spouses, Lisa Gilbert and Charles Keller, Jeff and Kimberly Gilbert, and Amy and Craig Berman; loving grandchildren, Sam, Ben and Hana Keller, Ross and Madeline Gilbert, and Jackson and Caroline Berman.

A memorial service celebrating George's life will be held at 11 A.M. Monday, May 18 at First Presbyterian Church, 110 W. Broadway, Granville with Rev. Karen J. Chakoian as celebrant. A private graveside service will be held at College Cemetery at Denison University.

Memorial contributions may be made to The Works, C/O Development, P.O. Box 721, Newark, OH 43058-0721.