Page 15 • Lehigh University Wisconsin. Additionally, Sturm was a longstanding member of the American Chemical Society. Drawing from his upbringing in "The most German town in America," he used his German skills to translate chemistry journal articles. Ned Heindel, emeritus Howard S. Bunn Distinguished Professor of Chemistry, said Sturm was the “go-to guy” for Lehigh students striving to master physical chemistry. He said Sturm was generous with his time with struggling students and could explain in multiple ways the meanings behind the P-chem equations. “His approach yielded many grateful students,” Heindel said. “He kept very long office hours.” Additionally, Sturm found many occasions to launch his repertoire of Nashisms. “He knew scores of limericks but was especially fond of ones with a chemistry connection,” Heindel said. “He had the talent to inject just the right Nash verse–whether on an uncommon acid or on DDT– into his classroom lecture.” These were two of Jim’s chemical favorite limericks. A mosquito cried out in great pain, "A chemist has poisoned my brain!" And the cause of his sorrow Was para-dichloro- Diphenyl-trichloroethane. [Editor’s note: for those of you who had trouble with Organic, that’s DDT] The ant has made herself illustrious By constant industry industrious. So what? Would you be calm? Would you be placid? If you were filled with formic acid? With his wife, Margaret Ruth Sturm, who preceded him in death in 2016, Sturm bought the one-room Wassergass Schoolhouse in Lower Saucon, Pa., in 1959 and was the creative force in transforming the school into a family home where they raised seven children. He was also very active in his community. Sturm is survived by his children and nine grandchildren. See story contributed by Prof. Sturm on page 18. REMEMBERING James E. Sturm An Accomplished Chemist James Sturm was the ‘go-to guy’ for students striving to master physical chemistry. He also had a fondness for pocket watches and the poetry of Ogden Nash. James Edward Sturm, 91, professor emeritus of chemistry at Lehigh, passed away peacefully on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 25, 2021. Sturm joined Lehigh’s faculty in 1956, where he taught physical chemistry, nuclear chemistry and radiochemistry, and pioneered lab reporting protocols. He performed research in chemical kinetics, radiation chemistry, photochemistry and the collisional efficiencies of reactions of highvelocity atoms. He retired from Lehigh in 1995. Born in New Ulm, Minn., on March 28, 1930 to the late Bernard J. Sturm and Magdalene J. Foerster, Sturm’s cherished childhood memories included visiting with family, fishing and skating on the Minnesota River and working odd jobs. With no family car, he walked everywhere in the quintessential mid-western town and never minded the cold. Inspired by a railroad watch that his father left him, Sturm became an avid watch collector, repairman and expert on antique pocket and railroad watches. He was active in the National Watch and Clock Collectors Association. An enthusiast of Ogden Nash, he also was quick with a limerick or pun. “Jim was a delightful colleague and accomplished physical chemist, known also for his friendly and supportive disposition, eagerness to help others, ready sense of humor, and love of pocket watches and the poetry of Ogden Nash,” said Greg Ferguson, chair of the department of chemistry at Lehigh. Sturm graduated from St. John's University in Collegeville, Minn., and earned his Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of Notre Dame. He did postdoctoral work at the University of
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