Franklin S. Chance

Franklin was a unique individual, born and raised in Tennessee, who was one of the first chemical Engineering co-op students at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. He maintained an active association with the University of Tennessee throughout his career serving as president of the College of Engineering Alumni Association and a member of the Board of Governors.

He met and married Melba Greer, the sister of one of his best friends in graduate school, and they remained devoted to each other for 67 years, until her death in 2007.

During and immediately after World War II he was employed at DuPont where he was named on multiple patents, including the discovery of polyethylene. He had other domestic and foreign patents on nylon, synthetic elastomers, thermosetting resins, and pharmaceutical dosage forms. Wanting to continue in Chemical Engineering research, he returned to the University of Tennessee, with his growing family, where he was the first student ever to receive a doctorate in Chemical Engineering in Tennessee.

With degree in hand he moved to New York City to work with Charles Pfizer Inc. and within months was taken out of research and put in management. He was elevated in a short time to Technical Director of Pfizer International and began his travels around the world designing facilities to manufacture antibiotics and other chemicals. During these travels particularly in India he found time to help alleviate the physical sufferings of refugees from Tibet, becoming one of the founding members of the American Emergency Committee for Tibetan Refugees, Inc. It was also during these travels that he began struggling with the cultural biases against nutritious foods that could prevent starvation.

Retiring from Pfizer at an early age he began an association with Moral ReArmament that subsequently led to his being on the founding faculty of the newly formed Mackinac College, Mackinac Island, MI. During the summers he worked on the construction crews building classrooms and other facilities. The associations and friendships made with the students and faculty and administration were some of the most enduring.

On his second retirement he and Melba lived in Punta Gorda, FL where he wrote extensively and continued his interest in alleviating hunger and worked tirelessly with Habitat for Humanity in administration, construction and financing.

In 2002 they moved to be with their son John and his wife Kay in Bulverde, TX. Franklin became a faithful member of the Forum Sunday School class at Colonial Hills Methodist Church. A longtime member and President of Rotary Clubs he also became a member of San Antonio -North Central Rotary Club.

Franklin was a staunch proponent of individual liberty and responsibility and opposed to coercion of any kind, a child of the Enlightenment. His humor, quick wit, intellectual curiosity and generosity will be sorely missed.

Franklin was predeceased by his wife and eldest son Franklin III.

He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law John and Kay Chance of Bulverde, daughter and son-law, Ethel and Michael Shakeshaft of Lanesborough, MA, five grandchildren: Catherine and Julia Britell, Julie Lindsey and husband Ken, Frank Chance IV and wife Jessica , and Susannah Chance and 3 great-grandchildren.

The family would like to thank the caregivers of Hope Hospice and Odyssey Hospice, Griswold Senior Care and the owners and staff of Pipestone Place Assisted Living for their thoughtfulness and caring attitude.

MEMORIAL SERVICE

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2010

12:30 PM

COLONIAL HILLS METHODIST CHURCH

5247 VANCE JACKSON

SAN ANTONIO, TX

Rev. Dr. David L. Semrad officiating.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in his memory to any of the following: Habitat for Humanity, 311 Probandt, San Antonio, TX 78204, Foundation for Economic Education, 30 S. Broadway, Irvington, NY 10533-1808, Rotary Foundation, 14280 Collections Center Dr., Chicago, IL 60693, or Hillsdale College, 33 E. College St., Hillsdale, MI 49242-9989.