George Slomp

Slomp, George Jr., PhD. Of Kalamazoo, MI George left this vale of tears and entered his eternal home on October 23, 2020. He was born in Grand Rapids, MI on February 15, 1922 the son of George Slomp Sr. and Delia (Alberda) Slomp. He graduated from South High School in 1938 and from Calvin College in 1942. He went to The Ohio State University to work as a graduate teaching assistant in organic chemistry. Because it was during WWII the American Oil Company soon recruited him to work in their airline fuel labs for military aircraft in Texas. After the war he returned to OSU to work on his degree in organic chemistry. He received his PhD in 1949. While he was at OSU, he was a member of a men's Madrigal Singing group and also became a member of the Sigma Pi Fraternity. He was a member for more than 70 years. He began working at The Upjohn Company in the fall of 1949 in organic chemistry research. In 1957 the Upjohn Company sent him to the University of Illinois to learn the fundamentals of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) with Dr. H. Gutowski. After six months he returned to Kalamazoo and introduced NMR to The Upjohn Company and the greater Kalamazoo area. By 1958 it was evident to NMR researchers that it was necessary to be able to meet with each other on a regular basis to discuss the problems and solutions of NMR. Consequently, George and two of his colleagues began working to form the Experimental Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Conference (ENC) which held its 61st annual conference this year. He was active in various ways in the ENC until his retirement in 1991. Some of the articles he wrote can still be found on the internet. In 1979 he received the W.E. Upjohn award in recognition of the special accomplishments of his research. For many years he was a member of Grace Christian Reformed Church. Later he became a charter member of the Free Christian Reformed Church which became the Covenant United Reformed Church. His hobby was restoring old cars, especially Corvair's. He was a long-time member of the West Michigan Club. He also enjoyed making homemade wine. He was a pipe organ aficionado and enjoyed playing his own Wurlitzer organ at home. He never missed an Ohio State football game whether in person or via television. He especially enjoyed spending time with his family. In 1951 he was married to Harriet Den Boer who survives. Together they raised four children who survive: Helene, Catharine, George P., and Gwendolyn. Also surviving are two grandchildren: Rebecca and Peter. A private funeral was held and there will be no further visitation. Please visit George's personalized web page to sign his online guest book and leave a condolence or message for his family at: https://www.langelands.com