Roy Victor Harrington, Ph.D., age 82, of Brecksville, Ohio, passed away suddenly at his home in Brecksville on Sept. 11, 2011.
He was born Sept. 28, 1928 in Brooklyn, N.Y. to Karen (nee Hansen) and Victor Harrington. He attended the public schools in New York and obtained a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn in 1949. From 1952 to 1955 he earned a PhD in chemistry from the University of Colorado in Boulder, Colo.
Between his undergraduate and graduate education Harrington worked at the General Foods Corporation where he helped to build and operate their first radioisotopes laboratory. After obtaining his PhD, Roy went to work at the Corning Glass Corporation and worked in the field of glass composition. He received several patents on television cathode ray tube glasses, glass-ceramics, radiation shields and electronic glasses. While at Corning, Roy developed his interest and skills in research management. During this time Roy founded and chaired the Corning Science Seminar for gifted high school students.
In 1968, Roy left his position as manager of Materials Development at the Corning Glass Works and went to work at the Ferro Corporation of Cleveland, Ohio, until 1991. Harrington became the vice president and corporate director of research for Ferro, retiring in 1991. While at Ferro, the organization experienced tremendous growth. In 1971, he designed and directed Ferro’s new laboratory in Independence, Ohio. During his tenure at Ferro, Harrington directed the expansion of Ferro’s domestic and international businesses into new specialty chemicals, plastics and electronic materials.
Harrington was a member of the American Chemical Society for over 50 years and was past chairman of its Northeast Ohio Section. He was an emeritus member of The American Ceramic Society, and the Industrial Research Institute, at which he represented Ferro for many years. He was a member of ACerS Basic Science Division and NICE.
He served on the federal government’s panel on the storage of high-level radioactive waste. He also served for several years on the Edison Polymer Innovation Corporation board, helping to create new jobs in the Ohio polymer industry.
A longtime member of the Lakeside Yacht Club in Cleveland, Ohio, Harrington loved to race his 30-foot sloop, “Golden Dolphin.” He additionally enjoyed hiking, camping, canoeing, climbing, skiing and genealogy research.
Harrington is survived by his wife Catherine Elizabeth Harrington (nee Wiese) to whom he was married in 1952 in New York. He is also survived by his children Bruce Harrington (Sally) of Houston, Texas, Karen Harrington of Columbus, Ohio, and Thomas Harrington (Deborah) of Akron, Ohio, and his five grandsons Tyler, Stuart, James Riley, Eric and Alex Harrington.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be forwarded to the American Chemical Society at http://www.acs.org/giving, choose either the Green Chemistry Education and Outreach or the Teacher Professional Development Options, in memory of Roy Harrington.
(Information from ACerS records and Busch Funeral Services)