Sunday, April 02, 2000
Joseph Kowalewski, scientist, college dean, dies at 100
Projects included Preparation H
BY BETSY KIRKPATRICK
The Cincinnati Enquirer
On the eve of a new century, Dr. Joseph Kowalewski celebrated his 100th birthday with Cincinnati Mayor Charlie Luken declaring it “Joseph F. Kowalewski Day” to honor him as a researcher, college dean, and teacher.
He died of heart failure Thursday at the Mount Washington Care Center.
Born near Evansville, Miss., on Dec. 31, 1899, Joseph Kowalewski and his family moved to Wisconsin when he was young. He quit high school at 16 to support his family. He moved with his cousin to Chicago, where he worked on a shipping dock for Sears, Roebuck & Co. After two years, he returned to Wisconsin, where he graduated from high school at age 20.
He earned a teachers-principal's certificate from the Normal School of La Crosse, now the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. There, he met his future wife, Emma. They married in 1923.
In 1924, he completed a bachelor's degree in chemistry at the University of Chicago. The couple moved to Cincinnati. He taught at St. Xavier High School from 1925-29 and completed a master of science degree at the University of Cincinnati.
He received a doctorate in physical chemistry from UC in 1938 and became a full-time faculty member at the Cincinnati College of Pharmacy in 1941.
He accepted the joint appointment in 1941 as assistant director of research and associate professor of chemistry at the Institutes of Divi Tomae and as director of applied research at Sperti Inc. He focused on the development of cosmetics, detergents, pottery glazes used by Rookwood Pottery and on food products.
He also oversaw the development of Preparation H — his “greatest achievement as a scientist,” he told the Enquirer last year.
In 1949, he returned to the Cincinnati College of Pharmacy as dean and helped preserve the college by raising more than $750,000 and aiding its merger with the University of Cincinnati.
Victor Warner, a professor at the College of Pharmacy, said Dr. Kowalewski “had a thirst for knowledge and didn't mind being the old guy in school. He helped open doors for me that wouldn't have been opened otherwise.”
The two met when Mr. Warner took over in 1984 as dean of the College of Pharmacy.
During Dr. Kowalewski's tenure as dean, the faculty numbers were increased, the bachelor of science program was expanded to five years.
He maintained relationships with former pharmacy students, two dozen of whom appeared at his 100th birthday celebration.
“He would do everything he could to help you succeed,” said David Kerr, his attorney and a member of Dr. Kowalewski's last class, 1970. “He would pay tuition for students who were having financial problems.”
After retirement, he remained active in student affairs. He was the featured speaker at the college's all-class reunion in 1986, recalling the details of pranks alumni pulled when they were students.
“He remembers who put a professor's car up on blocks so it wouldn't move,” said Mr. Warner.
Dr. Kowalewski's wife died in 1995. His son, Joseph William, died in 1961.
Visitation will be 8:30-10 a.m. Monday at T.P. White & Sons Funeral Home, 2050 Beechmont Ave., Mount Washington. Mass of Christian burial follows at Guardian Angels Church, 6531 Beechmont Ave., Mount Washington. Burial will take place at Guardian Angels Cemetery.
Memorials may be directed to St. Joseph Home, 10722 Wyscarver Road, Cincinnati 45241 or the Joseph F. Kowalewski Pharmacy Practice Fund, University of Cincinnati Foundation, P.O. Box 670064, Cincinnati 45267-0064.
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