Mr Donald G. Cole (Chemistry 1959)

Provided by Mrs Susan Cole

Donald C. Cole 1935 - 2009

B.Sc., A.R.C.S., M.I.Chem.E., C.Eng

Born in Battersea, Don attended Belleville Rd. primary school during the war with only 5 children in the class. After passing his 'eleven plus' he went to Sir Walter St. John's grammar school. Called up for National Service he joined the RAF as an Air Radio Technician serving in Egypt, Cyprus and Malta. In 1956, he joined Imperial College London to study chemistry gaining his degree in 1959.

After a short time working in the UK he left for Norway to work in Oslo and to learn the language. After a year there, he was recommended for a position at the Max-Planck Institute in Dusseldorf, Germany, also learning the language. Later he joined Kronos International in Leverkusen N.R.W. Here he spent most of his professional career working in the Process Technology Department until his retirement in 1995. Originally his work was concerned with the development of processes for the production of titanium compounds. This work lead to full scale production of titanium aluminium chloride. Don's main field of work however, was the treatment of titanium dioxide pigments. The crystalline titanium dioxide arising from the production of titanium white is sensitive to light and weathering. Don studied the precipitation of the different hydroxides in the laboratory in order to determine the most favourable conditions for the production process. After the successful conclusion of the laboratory experiments the results were tested and Donald helped with the development to full production.

In his youth, Don had been a keen member of the Boy's Brigade and their motto 'Sure and Steadfast' goes well to describe his personality. Sure and steadfast in all aspects of his life as a colleague, as a friend or within the family. A man blessed with a cheerful positive outlook and gregarious disposition, which found its expression in numerous friendships and activities.

Throughout his life friends and family were of particular importance to him. After losing his first wife in 1988 he married a second time in 1993 and started a new lease of life. He was a wonderful husband, a keen dancer and admired for his voluntary work, being greatly involved with the Twinning Partnership Association and the Auslander Beirat.

Don was diagnosed with Lyme disease (Borreliose) in 2002 which he managed to overcome after being paralysed in both legs and learning to walk again. In June 2007, He was diagnosed with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or motor neurone disease). Six months later his breathing was affected, leaving him with a tracheostomy and a need for a great deal of care and nursing until he died on 11th June 2009.

He leaves a wife, three children and four grandchildren. I will miss him very much. He was a wonderful husband and didn't deserve to die of such a terrible disease.

We will donate all monies and donations to Professor Mazarakis ALS Research into Motor Neurone Disease at the Imperial College and wish him every success in his work.

Mrs Susan Cole Pulheim Germany