- Email: [email protected]
Fred Helfferich
Reactive Polymers, 19 (1993) xv-xvi
XV
Elsevier Science Publishers B.V., Amsterdam
Fred Helfferich
I first met Fred at a Gordon Conference, in 1981 I believe, Kimball Union Academy, Meriden, with Gil Januer as Chairman. He was not a speaker, but did chair the Tuesday morning session on "Advances in Ion Exchange Theory". His reputation had gone before him, and although only steering the proceedings on this occasion, he was nevertheless impressive. It seemed to me that whenever the discussion reached an impasse, Fred would rule on the situation and everyone was happy with the outcome, winner and loser alike. This air of authority was apparent whenever I saw him again at subsequent Gordon Conferences and although our interests in ion exchange resins were quite different, my respect and admiration for Fred grew enormously. Behind the scenes in the "beer bar" at night, or during the afternoon relaxation sessions, Fred's friendly human qualities were always apparent and somehow his humility seemed to enhance his scientific stature. This was my impression when we sat down to dinner one evening at the " E u r o p e a n Science Foundation Workshop on Reactive Polymers as Supports and Catalysts" held in Tirrenia, Italy in October 1986, my wife Val accompanied us. Eventually the conversation got round to the journal Reactive Polymers, Ion Exchangers and Sorbents in which I had already published a few papers and of which I was aware Fred was the Editor-in-chief. He explained how he hoped the journal would develop and broaden, and out of the blue he asked me to join him as International Editor with responsibility for polymeric reagents,
catalysts, etc. I was dumbstruck - "why was this international legend asking me to join him in this central role"? Fred went on the say some very kind words and explained his strategy. I slept on his proposal and agreed the next day; the rest is history. Since then we have worked in close collaboration, always seeming to sense how the other felt on an issue, and requiring a minimal level of communication and discussion. I have enjoyed working with Fred enormously and was grateful for the level of authority and independence he gave me right from the start. I did not realise how working with him was going to broaden me scientifically, endow me with confidence, and perhaps most of all, allow me to form close friendships with kindred scientists all over the world. When Fred indicated that he felt the time had come for him to step down, I was taken totally by surprise, and wondered for a time whether a complete change at the helm was needed. Gradually I realised that this was not necessary and, indeed, was not in the best interests of the Journal. As a result we have evolved to where we are today with Abraham Warshawsky and myself as international co-editors, and an active group of regional editors around the world. Fred has let us get on with it as I expected he would, but I can sense him at my right hand whenever I am dealing with the Journal's business. He built Reactive Polymers up into a viable concern with very high standards and we have tried to continue this. The Journal's future seems secure, if anything is secure nowadays, and the reactive polymers
xvi community owes Fred a great debt for the vision he showed in starting it all off. I wish him a long, happy, and healthy retirement, and look forward to meeting him
again at Gordon Conferences in future, ruling on impasses! David C. Sherrington
XV
Elsevier Science Publishers B.V., Amsterdam
Fred Helfferich
I first met Fred at a Gordon Conference, in 1981 I believe, Kimball Union Academy, Meriden, with Gil Januer as Chairman. He was not a speaker, but did chair the Tuesday morning session on "Advances in Ion Exchange Theory". His reputation had gone before him, and although only steering the proceedings on this occasion, he was nevertheless impressive. It seemed to me that whenever the discussion reached an impasse, Fred would rule on the situation and everyone was happy with the outcome, winner and loser alike. This air of authority was apparent whenever I saw him again at subsequent Gordon Conferences and although our interests in ion exchange resins were quite different, my respect and admiration for Fred grew enormously. Behind the scenes in the "beer bar" at night, or during the afternoon relaxation sessions, Fred's friendly human qualities were always apparent and somehow his humility seemed to enhance his scientific stature. This was my impression when we sat down to dinner one evening at the " E u r o p e a n Science Foundation Workshop on Reactive Polymers as Supports and Catalysts" held in Tirrenia, Italy in October 1986, my wife Val accompanied us. Eventually the conversation got round to the journal Reactive Polymers, Ion Exchangers and Sorbents in which I had already published a few papers and of which I was aware Fred was the Editor-in-chief. He explained how he hoped the journal would develop and broaden, and out of the blue he asked me to join him as International Editor with responsibility for polymeric reagents,
catalysts, etc. I was dumbstruck - "why was this international legend asking me to join him in this central role"? Fred went on the say some very kind words and explained his strategy. I slept on his proposal and agreed the next day; the rest is history. Since then we have worked in close collaboration, always seeming to sense how the other felt on an issue, and requiring a minimal level of communication and discussion. I have enjoyed working with Fred enormously and was grateful for the level of authority and independence he gave me right from the start. I did not realise how working with him was going to broaden me scientifically, endow me with confidence, and perhaps most of all, allow me to form close friendships with kindred scientists all over the world. When Fred indicated that he felt the time had come for him to step down, I was taken totally by surprise, and wondered for a time whether a complete change at the helm was needed. Gradually I realised that this was not necessary and, indeed, was not in the best interests of the Journal. As a result we have evolved to where we are today with Abraham Warshawsky and myself as international co-editors, and an active group of regional editors around the world. Fred has let us get on with it as I expected he would, but I can sense him at my right hand whenever I am dealing with the Journal's business. He built Reactive Polymers up into a viable concern with very high standards and we have tried to continue this. The Journal's future seems secure, if anything is secure nowadays, and the reactive polymers
xvi community owes Fred a great debt for the vision he showed in starting it all off. I wish him a long, happy, and healthy retirement, and look forward to meeting him
again at Gordon Conferences in future, ruling on impasses! David C. Sherrington