John L. Deutsch was born in New York City in May 1938. He graduated from High School in Hattiesburg, MS. He received his B.S. in Chemistry from Tulane University in 1959. As an
undergraduate, he also served as a Chemistry Tutor and Research Assistant. His
academic accomplishments at Tulane included: Phi Beta Kappa; Sigma Pi Sigma
(Physics Honor Society); and, ACS Award for the Outstanding Chemistry Student.
John Deutsch was nationally recognized as a Rhodes Scholar (1959) and embarked on graduate studies at Trinity College, Oxford University (UK). His doctoral supervisor at Oxford was Prof. Richard Barrow (Physical Chemistry/Chemical Physics). John specialized in molecular spectroscopy and was awarded D.Phil. in 1963. He has since maintained a close association with Oxford: post-doctorate research (1964); three occasions as a Summer Visiting Scientist with Professor Barrow. He has also conducted post-doctorate research in physics at the University of Stockholm and as Visiting Scientist at the Herzberg Institute of Astrophysics in Ottawa.
Prior to joining SUNY Geneseo in 1966, John Deutsch served as Visiting Assistant Professor at Pomona College in California.
He recently completed a distinguished 41-year career at SUNY Geneseo (1966 – 2007). John was hired as the Chemistry Department’s first physical chemist. He taught a full spectrum of courses (analytical; inorganic; physical; freshman chemistry), as well as supervising undergraduate research.
Professor Deutsch was the recipient of the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Chemistry (1974; 1976). He has had a passion for encouraging high standards for chemical education by establishment of several John Deutsch Awards at SUNY Geneseo: Excellence in Chemical Thermodynamics; Excellence in Molecular Spectroscopy; Excellence in Physical Chemistry; and, General Chemistry Achievement.
Dr. Deutsch became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC) in 1983, a Fellow of the American Institute of Chemists in 1985 and has been a Member of the AAAS since 1960.
John Deutsch has also served our local ACS Section in the following capacities:
Chair, Rochester ACS Section (1989); Chair (four years), Harrison Howe Award Committee. While Chair of the Rochester ACS Section, he created the ACS Award for Outstanding Chemistry Students graduating from Colleges and Universities in our Section.
Dr. Deutsch has co-authored 19 publications in scientific journals and made 17 presentations at scientific meetings.
He met his future wife, Edna Robertson, when she was a graduate student studying Physical Chemistry on a Carnegie Scholarship at Oxford University in England. She has also maintained a strong interest in technical fields: post-doctoral research at Pomona College; teaching (SUNY Geneseo in computer sciences and mathematics; The Harley School in mathematics).
Edna and John Deutsch have two children: Karin and Erik. Karin (named in honor of a former Swedish queen) earned a Ph.D. in history at Cambridge University (UK). She is now associated with Freedom House in New York City. Erik (named after the Patron Saint of Stockholm) was awarded a Ph.D. in electrical engineering at MIT. He currently specializes in ‘MEMS’ (micro electrical mechanical systems).
John Deutsch has also maintained a life-long interest in music going back to Junior High School (1949). He later played in the Tulane University Wind Orchestra. While at Oxford, John Deutsch played French horn with four different symphony orchestras. His commitment to music continued with the SUNY Geneseo Orchestra playing horn and trumpet.
Max M. Boudakian
July 27, 2008
