Remembering Neil Woolsey

Neil Franklin Woolsey, Professor Emeritus of Organic Chemistry, died June 20, 2021, at Valley Senior Living in Grand Forks. He was 86.

Neil was born in Tieton, Wash., on April 30, 1935, to Robert William Woolsey and Catherine L (Earl, Woolsey) Hume.

Neil earned many accolades in his chemistry career, including membership in the American Chemical Society (1957), the prestigious Delta Epsilon Sigma fraternal order at Washington DC (1957), the Society of the Sigma Xi at UW, Madison (1960) and a rare Rhodes Scholarship for Chemistry, placing him in the top 1 percente in the world post secondary chemistry students.

He was invited to attended Imperial College at Oxford University in London England (1961-1963) where he worked with Professor DHR Barton (Nobel Prize winner in chemistry) to earn his PhD. Neil returned to the United States in 1963 and took a post doctorate position at Iowa State University in Ames (1963-1965).

Neil was hired in 1965 as a Professor of Organic Chemistry by the University of North Dakota (1965-1998) where he spent his teaching career researching chemistry and advising students. He served the Organic Chemistry Department for 31 years before retiring.

In retirement he enjoyed traveling, driving his sports car and was an avid amateur radio operator.

He is preceded in death by his parents Catherine and Robert, his stepfather Ed O. Hume and his son Spencer Guy Woolsey.

Neil is survived by his brother Robert William Woolsey, his sister S. Katelin (Hume) Ryan-LaVail, his beloved wife Marilyn Elain (Gill) Woolsey, his daughters Beth Agnes Woolsey and Heather Lea (Woolsey) Rusten, his sons Earl Robert Woolsey and Nathan John Woolsey.

A private ceremony was held by the family at the home of his daughter, Heather, and his remains will be scattered in his home state of Washington on the shores of the Columbia River.

An online guestbook can be signed at https://www.amundsonfuneralhome.com/obituary/neil-woolsey.