Dear Colleagues,

I am sorry to share the news that Ralph Stuart passed away last week. Over nearly 40 years, Ralph has made an incredible impact on health and safety.

In the next few days, I will provide information about ways to share our thoughts and appreciation of Ralph.

I had the pleasure of working with Ralph very early in his career at the University of Vermont. I remember when he harnessed the power of email and FTP (file transfer protocol) to create a network of safety professionals and resources; when he developed one of the first Gopher sites, followed by a web site; when he realized the connection of behavioral science and laboratory safety; when he boldly reached out to EPA to convince them that there was a more effective way to manage chemical waste at universities; and when he introduced me to ACS and convinced me of the amazing benefits of being part of this wonderful community.

Ralph was a pioneer in the health and safety field. He has worked with and led ACS DCHAS and ACS Committee on Chemical Safety. He’s published many papers and presented scores of lectures, workshops, and webinars, and he encouraged and inspired even more papers and presentations from others. He was so creative, so intelligent, and so motivated to push harder and find more and more ways to reach people and connect them with the information they need – his enthusiasm and passion were infectious. He didn’t just talk, he acted, and in so doing created or inspired countless resources.

I can list many, many of his contributions of time and treasure, but I would not come close to capturing it all. I am forever grateful for his mentorship and inspiration.

Warm regards,

Robin