Frederick W. Gander ’42

Date posted: October 6, 2015, 11:39 am

Frederick William Gander, age 94, of West Grove, Pennsylvania, died Wednesday, September 23, 2015, at his home at Jenners Pond. Born January 14, 1921, in New York City to Anna Heins Gander and Gustav Gander.

Following education at Bayside High School and MIT, where he earned both bachelors and masters degrees in chemical engineering, and his marriage to Hazel Louise Craig of North Easton, Massachusetts, he served as a naval officer during World War II and then pursued a career in R&D with DuPont. This included directorship of the Yerkes Research Laboratory in Buffalo, New York, from which the products Tedlar, Clysar, and Kapton were brought to commercialization.

Upon his return to this area, the Ganders settled in Kennett Square and have maintained residence in Chester County up to the present. After his retirement, he and Hazel enjoyed spending winters in Dunedin, Florida. They also found time to travel widely in the Americas and overseas, especially to historic sites.

Throughout his life, Fred enjoyed athletic sports: lacrosse in college and golf and tennis in later years, continuing tennis to the age of 89. Along the way, he umpired, coached, and managed youth sports, tutored mathematics, served as area United Way chairman, and served on committee work in his Florida condominium.