A founder of modern mass spectrometry, Dr. Futrell was among the most accomplished scientists in the field. One of his most notable achievements was the invention of the tandem mass spectrometer.

He joined the Delaware faculty in 1986 as professor and served as chairperson of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry during a significant period of growth. He was named Willis F. Harrington Professor in 1990, and he was given an additional appointment as professor of chemical engineering in 1993. When he retired from UD in 1998, he was awarded emeritus status.

Colleagues remember

Several of Dr. Futrell’s colleagues shared reminiscences.

John L. Burmeister, Alumni Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Chemistry: “Rare, indeed, are the scientists who proved to be both a leader in their field and an excellent administrator. While Jean was a giant in the field of mass spectrometry, we convinced him to move from the University of Utah to the University of Delaware in 1986 primarily to serve as our CHEM/BIOC department chair. Consequently, for the next decade, we worked closely together as Batman (chair) and Robin (associate chair). That decade proved to be one of the most consequential, in terms of our growth and enhanced national reputation, of the 5.5 decades that I professed at the U of D. Jean's never-wavering enthusiasm and optimism were infectious. I thought of him as both a mentor and big brother. His move, in 1998, to become the director of the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, was surely our loss and PNNL's gain. Well done, thou good and faithful servant!”

Charlie Riordan, former vice president for research, scholarship and innovation at UD and current provost and senior vice president for academic affairs and Lawrence Herbert Distinguished Professor at Hofstra University: “Jean Futrell was responsible for building a foundation in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry that reverberates today. His appointment as chair in 1986 signaled a significant commitment to excellence in scholarly research and education in the chemical sciences, which he resolutely built. Jean was chair when I was hired in 1997. He painted a compelling and exciting picture of the future of the department, and UD more broadly, that was prescient. He loved this University and for years after his departure, Jean would return for the annual distinguished professors' dinner, proudly sharing with the Alison Professors that their medals were designed by his beloved wife, Anne Graham (also a former UD faculty member), who was often at his side."

Murray V. Johnston, professor emeritus of chemistry and biochemistry: “Jean was a friend and mentor to me and many others on campus and around the world. He was a driving force in the field of mass spectrometry, both in research and service. He was a huge factor in my move to the University of Delaware many years ago, for which I am grateful professionally and personally. He will be greatly missed.”

Cecil Dybowski, Francis Alison Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry: “Jean was our chair during a time of transition for our department. He will be remembered as expanding the department both through research activity and, particularly, for shepherding it through the building of the Lammot du Pont Laboratory. Without a doubt, he left a major mark on the University of Delaware. His attachment to the University of Delaware and this department could be seen in his continual return after he left for the position at Northwest Laboratory. I was almost always guaranteed to meet with Jean at functions for faculty at UD, as he would fly in to attend them. And every time, he would always ask about the department and how everyone in it was doing. It was obvious to me that he retained a good feeling about his time here.”

Klaus Theopold, professor emeritus of chemistry and biochemistry: "Jean Futrell came to UD as an external chair of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, with the explicit charge to improve the research profile of the department. Slight in stature, and looking the part of a Cajun (he was born in Grant Parish, Louisiana), he spent the next decade transforming his ambitious plans into reality.  One of his lasting achievements has been the construction of Lammot du Pont Laboratory, a then state-of-the-art research building, which was instrumental in attracting and housing many of his faculty hires. Jean was the principal  fundraiser for this project, and he proved very persuasive indeed! He was an accomplished physical chemist as well as a charming man. I fondly recall his sense of humor and quick wit (when my spellchecker caused me to address a message to him to ‘Jean Futile,’ he promptly began his reply with ‘Dear Claws’). Jean’s tenure at UD began a transformation that continued well beyond his departure in 1998. Those few of us who knew him will remember him fondly."

About Jean Futrell

Born in Dry Prong, Louisiana, he earned a bachelor of science in chemical engineering from Louisiana Tech University in 1955 and a Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1958. Dr. Futrell began his professional career in the Aerospace Research Laboratories at the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base outside Dayton, Ohio, where he was senior scientist for several years. He joined the faculty at the University of Utah in 1966 and then came to the University of Delaware in1986.

After retiring from UD, he moved to Richland, Washington, in 1998 to become director of the William R. Wiley Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). When he retired from there in 2013, he became the first Battelle Fellow Emeritus at PNNL.

Dr. Futrell served as president of the American Society of Mass Spectrometry, received numerous awards and was elected to the inaugural class of American Chemical Society fellows in 2009 for his research accomplishments and for service to the discipline of chemistry. He was also an elected fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Physical Society and the World Innovation Foundation.

In 2011, the Board of Directors of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry designated Dr. Futrell a pioneer in his field, and, as part of that honor, included his mass spectroscopy story in the Chemical Heritage Foundation’s Oral History Program.

He is survived by his wife, Anne Krohn Graham, retired professor of art and design at UD; daughter Alison Futrell; stepdaughter Tracy Anne Wenzinger; grandson Nathan Futrell; and step-granddaughters Zara and Tiffany Wenzinger; and Helen Wang, granddaughter of the heart.

To read his obituary or leave online condolences, visit Sunset Gardens.