Universidad de Puerto Rico

Facultad de Ciencias Naturales PO Box 70377

San Juan PR 00936-8377

22 de mayo de 2016 A LA COMUNIDAD DE LA FACULTAD DE CIENCIAS NATURALES

Carlos I. González, Ph.D. Decano Estimados compañeros y compañeras: Acabo de enterarme del deceso del doctor Ismael Almodóvar, expresidente de la Universidad de Puerto Rico desde noviembre del 1977 hasta junio de 1985. Además de ser presidente, el doctor Almodóvar trabajó por 40 años en la Universidad siendo catedrático, Director del Departamento de Química, Decano de la Facultad de Ciencias Naturales del Recinto de Río Piedras (1970-1974) y miembro de la Junta de Síndicos hasta el año 2003.

Los restos del expresidente serán expuestos en la Funeraria Ehret de San Juan, a partir de las 4:00 p.m. de hoy domingo 22 de mayo. Mañana lunes 23 de mayo, se trasladarán los restos a la rotonda de la Torre del Recinto de Río Piedras de 10:00 a.m. a 12:00 p.m. y luego se celebrará una misa en la capilla de la Funeraria Ehret a las 3:00 p.m.

A nombre de todo el personal docente y no docente, así como de todos los estudiantes de la Facultad, deseamos expresarle nuestro más sentido pésame a la familia del Dr. Almodóvar. Los exhorto a acompañar a la familia del Dr. Almodóvar en estos momentos difíciles. En particular, como miembros de la Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, agradeceré su presencia en la rotonda de la Torre mañana lunes 23 de mayo a las 10:00 am. Brindemos un merecido homenaje póstumo a este distinguido académico, universitario, colega y eterno amigo de nuestra Facultad.

¡Descanse en paz, distinguido colega y amigo!

University of Puerto Rico College of Natural Sciences

PO Box 70377 San Juan PR 00936-8377

TO THE COLLEGE OF NATURAL SCIENCES

Carlos I. González, Ph.D. Dean

In Memoriam of Dr. Ismael Almodóvar

Ismael Almodóvar studied his BSc in Chemistry at the "Colegio de Mayagüez (RUM)". After serving in the US Army in the Korean War, he returned to Puerto Rico and then went on to Carnegie Mellon University where he completed his PhD in Nuclear Chemistry. He was then appointed to the Puerto Rican Nuclear Center as a Research Scientist. Upon the death of his first wife, he transferred to the Chemistry Department in UPR-Rio Piedras and was soon appointed as Chair of the Department of Chemistry at UPR-RP. During his tenure as Chair he, together with Waldemar Adam, H.H. Szmant and Alec Grimison, created the first PhD Program of the College of Natural Sciences, in Chemistry. From his position as Chair, he was selected as Dean of the College of Natural Sciences, and served as such, from 1970 to 1974. During his tenure as Dean he promoted the development of undergraduate research and obtaining external funds for research; creating the highly successful SUBE program with NIH funds. After a year of leave to serve as a program officer at NIH, he returned to UPR and served as Scientific Advisor of the then President Arturo Morales Carrion. The President asked him to negotiate the status of the then PR Nuclear Center in its transition to the PR Center for Energy and Environmental Research under the new US Department of Energy, and served as its first Director. From 1977 until 1985 he served as the 4th UPR System President. During this period he sponsored the creation, with NSF funding, of the Resource Center for Science and Engineering (RCSE), the RCSE then promoted the creation of the Multi-Campus PhD in Biology (between UPR-RP and UPR Medical Sciences Campuses), and the first interdisciplinary PhD in UPR, the PhD in Chemical Physics a joint effort of the Physics and Chemistry Department at UPR-RP. After completing his term as Fourth UPR President he completed his Law studies, served as a counsel of the NIH, and was appointed Judge of the Carolina District Court of PR. He came back to UPR one final time to serve as member of the UPR Board of Trustees until 2003. "Ismaleo", as people used to call him, starting from humble beginnings rose through all academic ranks of UPR, and at each step left the mark of his incredible energy, leadership, and natural talent. The University of Puerto Rico and the College of Natural Sciences at UPR-RP owe him eternal gratitude for being instrumental in making UPR into a Research University of international distinction. Contributed by Dr. Manuel Gómez, who considers himself one of his disciples. (5/22/2016)