DAVID PEPPER: David Pepper was a man of many parts. By profession an academic, a physical chemist, he established a worldwide reputation in the field of polymerisation kinetics. A regular attendant and frequent lecturer at the International Macromolecular Chemistry Symposia, he invariably received invitations to combine lecture tours with these occasions.
He loved travelling, and his chemistry took him all over the world. He was especially proud of a visit to Kyoto where an Institute for Polymer Research was set up at his instigation. He attracted an international group of graduate students, with whom he retained friendly and affectionate contact long after they had scattered.
Born in 1917 in Shipley, Yorkshire, he described his secondary education in St Bede's Grammar School, Bradford and Ushaw College, Durham as "classical". Nevertheless his primary degree was in chemistry, studying in Bradford, and he qualified for a first-class external degree from London.
He moved to Cambridge, where he obtained his Ph.D in 1941, and subsequently carried out war work for the Ministry of Supply. Indeed, when he applied for a post in Trinity College in 1946 he had to explain that much of his work could not be published as it was still secret. It was on the properties of the explosive cordite.
In Trinity, David Pepper while managing a heavy teaching load, also established his research group. He had a very clear view of the purpose of the chemistry degree course: it should not only impart knowledge but should also train the students to adopt a logical approach, to think for themselves, and to use their knowledge to deal with new problems. His physical chemistry practical classes were meticulously designed and run.
He was elected a fellow of Trinity College in 1951, became a reader in physical chemistry in 1955, and in 1961 was appointed to the chair of physical chemistry. His good working relationship with the then head of department, Prof Wesley Cocker, and other staff members made for a happy environment.
Elected a member of the Royal Irish Academy in 1953, he served on its council in the 1960s and as a vice-president in 1967. In 1970, David Pepper was elected president of the Institute of Chemistry of Ireland.
It is traditional for the president to give a presidential address. David followed tradition, but not in his choice of subject: "Chemists, Makers or Menders of Pollution?"
Ahead of his time on environmental issues, he also set about raising money from industry and established a research fellowship in water pollution which ran for many years. He had seen earlier than many, he had also seen further. It is ironic that it was announced, in the week he died, that the waters of Dublin Bay were finally to be cleaned up.
But, he was more than a chemist. Initially living in college, he rapidly became part of the college community, not least as secretary to the common room - the academic staff club.
He was an entertaining and educative conversationalist, and he enjoyed vigorous discussions on issues far from his specialised subject.
He loved to travel but the country he favoured most was his maternal grandmother's native land, Italy. He spoke Italian and loved Italian food and wine. He loved music, particularly Italian opera and was a strong supporter of the Wexford Festival in its early days.
He was an able sportsman and played cricket for the staff XI. Also a keen skater, he was known to drag his graduate students out to skate at Brittas.
A Catholic staff member in the days when there was a ban by the Catholic hierarchy on Catholic students attending Trinity, he was active in the Laurentian Society founded by those Catholic students who were exempted from the ban, and he played a major role in the attempts to have a Catholic chaplain appointed to the college.
He is survived by his wife Deirdre, his son William and his sister Marie.
David Pepper: born January 1st, 1917, died January 12th, 2003