Dr. Edward I. Stiefel, 64, Chemistry Professor, Princeton University

BRIDGEWATER -- Edward I. Stiefel died Monday, September 4, 2006, at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, New Brunswick. Born in Brooklyn, he resided in Bridgewater for the past 26 years.

He was an undergraduate and graduate, receiving his bachelor's degree from New York University and a Master's and Ph.D in Chemistry with Professor Harry B. Gray from Columbia University. He was a faculty member at the State University of New York at Stony Brook; senior investigator at Charles F. Kettering Research Laboratory; and senior scientific advisor at Corporate Strategic Research Exxon/Exxon Mobile. In 2000, he joined the faculty of Princeton University as Ralph W. Dornte Lecturer with the rank of full Professor.

Dr. Stiefel had more than 150 scientific publications; holds 30 U.S. patents; and had co-edited Molybdenum Enzyme Cofactors and Model Systems, Transitions Metal Sulphus Chemistry; Biological and Industrial Significance Encyclopedia of Catalysis. His review article on the coordination and bioinorganic chemistry of Molybdenum was a citatio classic having been cited in more than 800 publications.

Edward served on the NSF Panel on Opportunities in Biotechnology, the Petroleum Research Fund advisor and chaired the Bioinorganic Subdivision of the American Chemical Society. He was on the advisory boards of Progress in Inorganic Chemistry, the Board of Reviews of Science and the Faculty of 1000. He organized the ACS Symposium on Molybdenum Enzymes, Cofactor Systems in 1992 and chaired the Gordon Research Conferences (GRC) on Metals in Biology. He organized a symposium on biomineralization at the IV International Conference on Advanced Materials, the Symposium on Transition Metal Sulfur Chemistry. He was founding co-chairman of the 2002 Inaugural GRC on Environmental Bioinorganic Chemistry (EBIC).

In 1994, he was elected a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.  He was the recipient of the American Chemical Society Award in Inorganic Chemistry for the year 2000. He was co-editor of the book, "Biological Inorganic Chemistry Structure and Reactivity," which is due to publish in the fall this year.

Edward had a great passion for teaching and a great love for music. He enjoyed playing piano and accordion. He was an avid reader and book collector. He was a movie buff and enjoyed fine art.

Edward was very devoted to his family, especially his grandsons. Surviving are his beloved wife of 42 years, Jeannette Musco Stiefel; his loving daughter, Karen Hoerhold and husband, Udo, of New Hampshire; two cherished grandsons,Max and Jake; his beloved brother, George and sister-in-law, Susan, of Baldwin, Long Island, N.Y.; a beloved niece, Bryna; and nephew, Spencer.