Wayne L. Worrell, Ph.D., 74, of Penn Valley, PA., passed away peacefully in his home surrounded by family on February 18, 2012 due to complications of Alzheimer's Disease. Born in Rock Island, IL in 1937, Dr. Worrell moved to Memphis in 1947. He attended MIT where he received his Bachelor of Science and Ph.D. in Material Science in 1962. After two years as a post-doctoral fellow and lecturer at the University of California, Berkeley, he joined the University of Pennsylvania and was promoted to Full Professor in the department of Material Science and Engineering and Applied Science. As Associate Dean of Graduate Education and Research from 1986 to 1992, he was responsible along with the Graduate Affairs Committee for increasing the quality and doubling the number of full-time graduate students in the Engineering School and for initiating the highly successful Executive Masters in Technology Management Program at the University of Pennsylvania. He encouraged and supported research collaborations with industry as well as new interdisciplinary research programs.

He was a Visiting Scholar at the Imperial College, University of London and a Visiting Professor at the University of California, Berkeley. He was a Fellow at the Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research, Stuttgart, Germany and a Japan Society of Promotion of Science lecturer. Dr. Worrell was also an Italian National Research Council Fellow at the University of Rome and a Visiting Professor of Materials Science at MIT.

Dr. Worrell served on numerous national and international advisory panels. As a member and chairman of the National Research Council Committee on High temperature Science and Technology, he initiated a study of future needs and anticipated developments in high temperature science, and a member of the National Research Council Committee on Chemical Sciences. He was chairman of the Gordon Research Conference on High Temperature Chemistry and a co-editor of Progress in Solid State Chemistry, an international Review Journal. Dr. Worrell also served as a consultant and external advisor for over 30 government and industrial laboratories.

Dr. Worrell is an elected Fellow of three professional societies: The Electrochemical Society, the American Ceramic Society, and the ASM International and a member of the Minerals Metals and Materials Society (TMS). He has been particularly active in The Electrochemical Society, serving as the chairman of numerous committees, member of the Board of Directors and Vice President. He was president and Chairman of the Board of Directors of The Electrochemical Society. He was also the Vice President and President of the International Society of Solid State Ionics.

His scientific and technical achievements have been recognized by numerous awards from the Electrochemical Society; the Outstanding Achievement Award of the High Temperature Materials Division; The Carl Wagner Memorial Award; the Solid State Science and Technology Award; The Acheson Award, the highest honor bestowed by the Society and by his election as an Honorary Member of the Electrochemical Society. He was the Electrochemical Society's representative to the Board of Trustees of the Chemical Heritage Foundation, and Chairman of the Association history Committee and Member of the Heritage Council of Chemical Heritage Foundation.

His major research interests have been in high temperature solid-state electrochemistry with a focus on electrical and electrochemical properties of novel materials and their applications in sensors, fuel cells, catalysis and as protective coatings. At the University of Pennsylvania, Dr. Worrell established an internationally known research group in high temperature solid state chemistry. He mentored over 40 graduate students and over 30 post-doctoral fellows and visiting professors. Their talents resulted in over 110 papers and 10 patents. His groups' research not only increased the understanding of the high temperature electrochemical properties of novel materials, but also of the analysis and evaluation of their application in energy conversion, storage technologies, fuel cells, catalysis and as protective coatings.

Dr. Worrell was devoted to his family, his faith, science and the idea that great experiences and great friendships are the foundation of a life well-lived. Summers in Maine, extensive travels abroad with family, and a global network of beautiful friendships brought him his greatest joys. Dr. Worrell loved attending concerts given by the Philadelphia Orchestra. He was an enthusiastic sailor and relished hiking the mountain trails of Mount Desert Island, ME. Dr. Worrell was also a Member of St. John Vianney Parish in Gladwyne, PA., an organizer of Interweaving, a faith-based initiative for teens on the Main Line and was actively involved in The Margaret Roper Forum.

He is survived and deeply missed by his loving wife Judith, his son Fred (Dyana), his daughter Caroline (Steve) and their families, including six beautiful grandchildren, Marion, William, Peyton, Daniel, Lauren Grier and Lauren Elizabeth.

A Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday March 3, 11:00 AM at St. John Vianney Church, 350 Conshohocken State Rd., Gladwyne, PA. Interment will be private.


In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to University of Pennsylvania School of Engineering & Applied Science, 220 South 33rd St., Towne Bldg., Philadelphia PA 19104-6391 or to Friends of Acadia (National Park), 43 Cottage St. #D, Bar Harbor, ME 04609 or to Electrochemical Society, 65 South Main St. Bldg. D, Pennington, NJ 08534-2839.