Suzanne Townsend Purrington

Suzy, the eldest daughter of Edward Nicoll Townsend and Eleanore Vietor Townsend (later Rutherfurd), was born on April 30, 1938 in New York, New York. After attending The Bement School and graduating from Foxcroft School in 1956, Suzy attended Wheaton College in Norton, Massachusetts where she graduated Phi Beta Kappa and won the Evans-Marshall Chemistry Award in 1960. She continued her higher education in Chemistry, earning her master’s at Radcliffe in 1962 and PhD from Harvard University in 1963 (with a doctoral thesis entitled Free Radical Scavengers of the Galvinoxyl Type) and later doing her post-doctoral work at Duke University.

Most importantly for her children, while at Harvard, she met Al Purrington when he presented her a palm on Palm Sunday while serving as an usher. She proceeded to entice him with a meatloaf dinner into what would be a 52-year marriage, and he lured the “Northern Girl” to North Carolina where they raised their three children in the woods on Lost Valley Road at the edge of Umstead Park.

For over 35 years, Dr. Purrington distinguished herself as a Professor of Chemistry, beginning her career at Shaw University in 1965. After a temporary relapse to the North, where she taught at the NY Institute of Technology, she and Al returned to North Carolina where she taught at Peace College before moving to North Carolina State University in 1976, where she continued teaching for over 25 years. At N.C. State, she was revered as a teacher, earning the NCSU Outstanding Teacher Award in 1982. In the lab, she focused on organoflourine chemistry, producing the first chemical compound to be used as an electrophilic fluorinating reagent. Dr. Purrington was active in the American Chemical Society, holding various positions throughout her career, including Chair of the Flourine Division and NC Section. Her accolades include the Distinguished Service Award from the American Chemical Society’s Division of Flourine Chemistry (2005), Wheaton College Alumnae Achievement Award (2002), the N. C. State Libraries Faculty Award (1994) and the Foxcroft Distinguished Alumna Award (2011).

In addition to her professional pursuits, Suzy, and her husband Al, were devoted members of Christ Episcopal Church on Capitol Square in Raleigh where she served on the Vestry and taught confirmation classes. She was a longtime supporter of the NCSU Friends of the Libraries, NC Museum of Natural Sciences, the NC Zoo, and the Carolina Ballet. She participated in many book clubs and lunch groups, especially enjoying the ‘Northern Girls’ lunch group.

Suzy is survived by her three children: Alfred Nicholas Purrington (Jacinda Isley), John Vietor Purrington (Elizabeth Anderson) and Elizabeth Purrington Alley (John Granville Alley, Jr.); seven grandchildren, brother-in-law John Ward Purrington (Charlotte); sister-in-law, Nella Purrington Fulton; and niece, Key Burns.

She was predeceased by her husband, her parents and her siblings, Peter Raynham Townsend and Wendy Vietor Townsend.

The family received friends at the Alley residence in Raleigh, from 5:00 pm until 7:00 pm on Wednesday, June 28th.

Funeral service was held at 2:00 pm on Thursday, June 29th at Christ Episcopal Church. Family received friends after the service in the Parish Hall.

Those wishing to do so may make contributions to Wheaton College (Norton, Mass.), Christ Episcopal Church (Raleigh), the Purrington Library Endowment (N.C. State University Libraries) or to the charity of their choice.

Arrangements by Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, Saint Mary’s St., Raleigh.