Bonner passes away

Lyman Bonner, a rocket propellant expert and Caltech administrator, died Friday, March 22. He was 89.

Born in Kingston, Ontario, he was the second of seven children, four of whom would receive their PhDs from Caltech. After earning a BA in chemistry at the University of Utah in 1932, he entered
the Institute as a graduate student and received his PhD in chemistry in 1935.

Bonner was a National Research Council fellow at Princeton University from 1935 to 1937, an instructor and assistant professor at Duke University from 1937 to 1945, and an administrator at Hercules Inc. from 1945 to 1965.

He was an expert in rocket-propellant design and development, interior ballistics, spectroscopy, and molecular structure. At Hercules Inc. he was technical director of the Allegany Ballistics Laboratory from 1945 to 1955, and was director of development in the explosives and chemical-propulsion department from 1955 to 1965. During World War II, he received the Navy’s highest civilian honor, the Distinguished Public Service Award, for developing new propellants for rockets and guided missiles.

Bonner came to Caltech in 1965 as director of foundation relations, and in 1966 was named an associate in chemistry. He also served as assistant to the president from 1967 to 1969, as registrar from 1977 to 1989, and as administrator for student affairs from 1980 to 1984.

He is survived by his wife, Jacqueline Bonner of Pasadena, a former editor of Caltech’s Engineering and Science magazine; three children; five grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. A memorial service will take place at 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 6, at Villa Gardens, 842 East Villa Street (east of Lake Avenue), fifth floor, Pasadena.
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