Tenured Meramec Chemistry Professor passed away on Nov. 11
BY: JACOB POLITTE
Managing Editor
Meramec Chemistry Professor Reni Joseph, Ph.D, passed away peacefully on Monday, Nov. 11 in Ballwin. No cause of death was publicly revealed, but she had been battling what was described by colleagues as “a long illness.” She is survived by her husband, Dr. Suresh Mathew and her children Hannah, Jason, and Shayna.
A funeral service for her was held on Thursday, Nov. 14 at Schrader Funeral Home in Ballwin.
Joseph, a long time member of the campus’s Chemistry Department, was described in her obituary as “a devoted wife and mother, a loving daughter and sister, and an adoring aunt to her nieces and nephews. Her warmth, compassion, and generosity made her an amazing presence in the lives of all who knew her. As a professor, she was highly respected by her students, always prioritizing their needs and fostering an environment of learning and growth. She was an avid traveler and loved classical music.”
Joseph was also an accomplished academic beyond STLCC. Described in her obituary as “a gifted Organic Chemist with numerous scientific publications to her name, she earned her graduate degree from the National Chemical Laboratory in Pune, India, and Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen in Germany. She went on to complete a Postdoctoral Fellowship at Harvard University, followed by a Fellowship at the National Research Council in Ontario, Canada.”
Joseph had worked as a Principal Scientist at MDS Pharma in Montreal before relocating to St. Louis after her marriage. In addition to her role at STLCC, she was deeply involved with the American Chemical Society (ACS) at both local and national levels, even serving as Program Chair and Chair of the ACS Committee on Minority Affairs. This was in addition to serving on various committees at the National Science Foundation (NSF).
Michael Hauser, a colleague of Joseph’s in the Chemistry department, remembers her fondly.
“I was the first at Meramec to meet Dr Reni Joseph as I was guide when she interviewed with our department,” Hauser said. “I instantly liked her. In the years we worked together, I found her high intellectual ability was surpassed only by her unfailing graciousness. Reni always had a kind word for everyone and was outstanding at working with and for students.”
Hauser also spoke about how supportive Joseph was of him when they discussed academics.
“When we would dialogue about the art of teaching, she never failed to positively support my ideas using one of her favorite words ….’brilliant.’ She was a modest woman, devout Christian and outstanding wife and mother. During her long illness she was always upbeat and positive. Her loss will be felt by many, and I regret that many future students will not have the opportunity to be nurtured and educated by this special person.”
