KU Chemistry

The Department of Chemistry is saddened to announce the passing of our friend and colleague, Emeritus Distinguished Professor Theodore “Ted” Kuwana.  Ted passed away Friday morning, December 31, 2021, from complications due to pneumonia.  Ted received his B.S. degree in chemistry from Antioch college in 1954 and his M.S. degree from Cornell University in 1956.  He came to KU to study under the direction of Prof. Ralph N. Adams and became Ralph’s first Ph.D. in 1959.  Following postdoctoral studies with Prof. Fred Anson at the California Institute of Technology, he joined the faculty at the University of California, Riverside in 1960 as a Visiting Assistant Professor.  He moved to Case Western Reserve as an Associate Professor in 1965 and was promoted to full Professor in 1968.  In 1971 he moved to Ohio State University.  Ted joined the faculty at KU in 1986 as Regents Distinguished Professor of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Chemistry and the Director of the Center for Bioanalytical Research.  He was a pioneer in the development of spectroelectrochemistry, leader in bioelectroanalytical chemistry, and founder of the Analytical Sciences Digital Library.  Ted was tremendously influencial in shaping our department and his philanthropic support in retirement has helped all aspects of our program.  In particular, he and Dr. Don Leedy initiated a fund to provide for an annual Ralph N. Adams Lectureship and to support graduate student travel to conferences.  For those interested in honoring Ted’s memory and legacy at KU, the family encourages donations to this fund using the following link:

https://www.kuendowment.org/leedy-kuwana