Brian William Pengilly

Dr. Brian W. Pengilly passed away peacefully on April 25, at the age of 92, with his wife of 36 years at his side. He was predeceased by his parents and two brothers, Peter and Michael.

Brian was born in 1930 to William Pengilly and Winifred Stone in Windlesham, England, and grew up in the County of Surrey. After receiving his PhD in Physical Organic Chemistry from University of London, Kings College, Brian worked briefly for ICI Chemicals before moving to the US to take a position with Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. in Akron, Ohio. During his 38 years with Goodyear, he worked in Goodyear’s Research facility, mostly with polymer materials and was responsible for 12 patents for his work. In 1969 he received the Goodyear Dinsmore Merit Award for direct esterification, jointly with Verne Rinehart, for their “original thinking and cooperative action in developing a better product.” Brian served on science and industrial advisory boards at the University of Delaware and Case Western Reserve University, where he occasionally lectured, and published articles in the Journal of the Chemical Society. Brian served as an Associate Editor of the Journal of Applied Polymer Science for 20 years for John Wiley Publishers and was a Life Member of the American Chemical Society. Brian retired from Goodyear in 1995 as Director of Advanced Tire Materials and Processing Research. During his 50 years in Akron, he was active in support of the art museums and music organizations in Akron and Cleveland, and was honored by the International Institute of Akron as Distinguished
Immigrant of Akron.

Brian always had interesting stories to tell friends and family about his travels around the world, visiting rubber plantations and various university research programs for Goodyear. In later years, his turbulent childhood during the Blitz was foremost in his mind. But perhaps his family’s favorite bit of lore was the story of Agatha Christie and her husband renting an apartment on the Scottswood estate, owned by Brian’s parents in the 1930s, and how the Christies skipped out on their unpaid rent!

Brian and his wife relocated to Aiken in 2009, where they enjoyed new friends and new foods, splitting their time between Aiken and their home in the south of France. Brian is survived by his wife, Dr. Joan Forssmark Pengilly, daughters Laura Ashlee (Gordon) of Henderson NV and Anne Auger (Michael) of Matthews NC, granddaughter Christina Nowakowski (John) and greatgranddaughter Livia Nowakowski of Sacramento CA, former wife Dr. Sylvia Pengilly, as well as brother-in-law Allen Forssmark (Sue), sister-in-law Paula Forssmark Werber (Douglas), sister-inlaw Sheila Pengilly, sister-in-law Barbara Pengilly, and many nieces and nephews.

A funeral service is planned for 11 am on Saturday, April 29 at Shellhouse Funeral Home on Hayne Avenue, Aiken, with Reverend Father George Alexander officiating; visitation from 10-11 a.m. Burial will be private at Union Hill Cemetery, Kennett Square PA.

The family would like to thank the caregivers from Day Break and staff from Gentiva Hospice for assisting them through this difficult time.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in Brian’s name to the Columbia Museum of Art, Columbia SC or the Akron Symphony Orchestra, Akron OH.

Brian’s online guest book may be signed by visiting www.shellhousefuneralhome.com

SHELLHOUSE FUNERAL HOME, INC., 924 HAYNE AVE., AIKEN, SC