Douglas E. Applequist

Douglas E. Applequist, 85, died on Jan. 30 in Champaign, Ill.

“As a high school student, Doug told a guidance counselor that he loved all fields of science so much that he’d enjoy pursuing any of them, but that it was important to have a career that didn’t require public speaking. At the counselor’s suggestion, Doug started college as an entomology major, but was so captivated by a chemistry class that he changed course (and overcame his fear of public speaking). His boundless curiosity, and his unfailing instinct to treat others with kindness and decency, will be dearly missed.”—Jenny Applequist, daughter

Most recent title: emeritus professor of chemistry, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

Education: B.S., chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, 1952; Ph.D., chemistry, California Institute of Technology, 1955

Survivors: wife, Linda, and daughters, Wendy and Jenny