Richard (Dick) Noel Butler (emeritus professor of chemistry, NUI Galway), who has died aged 73, was an internationally renowned chemist who made outstanding contributions to his subject and profession.
Dick Butler was born in 1942 in Dunmanway, Co Cork, where his family operated the local pharmacy. He studied at University College Cork, obtaining his BSc in chemistry (1964) and his PhD (1967) under the direction of Prof Francis Leslie Scott.
In the same year he was awarded the Royal Commission for 1851 Exhibition Scholarship for Ireland, which he undertook at Leicester University (1967-1969).
He later became the first principal of Sligo Institute of Technology (1970) and subsequently moved to University College Galway (now NUI Galway) in 1971 to be a lecturer.
Dick had begun to make his mark as a scholar, publishing original contributions in prestigious international journals. These led him to achieve his higher doctorate (DSc) from the NUI in 1976. He was subsequently elected to the Royal Irish Academy in 1979. He was subsequently appointed the professor of chemistry and head of the chemistry department at NUI Galway in 1981, posts which he held until his retirement in 2008.
There were difficult times for universities and especially science departments. However, under Dick’s leadership, Galway’s chemistry department thrived. With his colleagues, he set about modernising the department. Dick was an inspiration to all science students. He was an exceptional teacher, administrator and researcher. He took on a demanding workload, including the Tuesday night tutorials for students who had not taken chemistry for the Leaving Certificate. Many of these students performed better in their examinations than those who had taken chemistry at secondary school and went on to become successful chemists. Dick also taught chemistry through the medium of Irish. Dick supported many graduates to enter the PhD programme, at a time when resources were limited. His high standards ensured these graduates obtained an excellent scientific training. More than 300 PhD students graduated during his time in the department and he personally supervised 45 of them. These chemists made a major contribution to the establishment of the very successful Irish chemical and pharmaceutical industry.
Dick was an active researcher throughout his career. He, with his PhD students, authored many leading articles, including the first isolation of pentazole, a molecule believed to have potential as a rocket fuel for space travel. He was honoured with the Boyle-Higgins Gold Medal of the Institute of Chemistry of Ireland in 1998 for his contributions.
Dick remained active through his retirement, publishing an article as recently as November 2015 in the Journal of Organic Chemistry with Anthony Coyne.
Dick was a strong supporter of his profession. He was president of the Institute of Chemistry of Ireland (1986-1988). He was the NUI representative on the syllabus committee that was involved in updating the Leaving Certificate chemistry course.
Dick was a passionate astronomer and for many years he was a regular speaker at the Galway Astronomy Society meetings, and he always fascinated and captivated. One of his interests was in the chemistry of the origin of life.
Dick was a lifelong supporter of the Cork hurlers and also was happy to see those of his adopted Galway doing well. He hurled with his school Farrenferris College in Cork, the Dohenys in Dunmanaway and Newcestown. He also had an outing with the Sligo county team.
Dick combined academic excellence with a warm humanity and exemplary integrity and these qualities extended to his private life.
Dick was a devoted husband and father and, despite all the demands of his career, still placed great importance on his family.
He is sadly missed by his loving wife Jean; sons Noel, Eoin and Richard; daughters Eimear, Deirdre, and Tríona; and his six adoring grandchildren. His passing is deeply regretted by his sisters Mary and Rosarie, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, daughters-in-law, sons-in-law, extended family, relatives, neighbours and friends.