Mary A. Kaiser

Mary Agnes Kaiser, of Newark, Delaware, died on July 10 after a brief stay at Christiana Hospital. She turned 63 in June. She lived her early life in Exeter, Pennsylvania. She had worked since 1977 for the Dupont Company, and was the first woman to achieve the level of Senior Research Fellow. She is survived by her husband, Cecil Dybowski, and one daughter, Marta Dybowski, both of Newark, Delaware.

Mary was an internationally respected environmental analytical chemist, whose expertise served her company, international collaborations, and State, Federal and international regulatory bodies. She obtained the B.S. from Wilkes College, the M.S. from Saint Joseph’s University, and the Ph.D. from Villanova University. Her book “Environmental Problem Solving Using Gas Chromatography” was a best-selling monograph on the field. She was active in the American Chemical Society, the Chromatography Forum, the Eastern Analytical Symposium, and FACSS. She served each organization in a variety of ways, including as president or chair. She was the second woman to be elected Chair of the Division of Analytical Chemistry of the ACS in 1985, and she was a founding member of the Subdivision of Chromatography of the ACS. She was recognized in “A Legacy for Delaware Women”, a compendium of women of achievement in Delaware in the early 1980s.

She loved and protected her family. She loved Disney World, to which she took her family at least once a year. She loved travel, even outside of her work. She was a voracious reader who would finish multiple books in a week. She was a friend to many inside and outside her profession. On any topic, she always had something profound and insightful to offer, in a calm manner that created trust. Her humor was infectious. She was particularly interested in encouraging young people to pursue higher education.

A remembrance was held on Saturday, July 16. Memorial contributions to the “Mary Kaiser Scholarship Fund” to benefit chemistry students at Wilkes University are welcomed. Contributions can be sent to:
Wilkes University
ATTN: Mary Kaiser Scholarship Fund
84 W. South Street
Wilkes-Barre, PA 18766