Obituary of Donald Dean Cameron

Donald Dean Cameron died in Chapel Hill, North Carolina on April 20, 2015 at the age of 87. He was born in McCook, Nebraska to the late Dr. John Cameron and Lillian (Dean) Cameron. He completed his undergraduate work at Southern Methodist University and his doctoral studies in chemistry at the University of Wisconsin in 1953. He then moved to Wilmington, Delaware, where he spent his career working as a research chemist for DuPont, primarily at the DuPont Experimental Station. There he played a role in developing a range of well-known products, including Delrin, Lucite resins, optical fibers, Corian, and Vespel. He is survived by his beloved wife of 62 years, Traute Cameron; daughters Laurie Cameron Steponaitis and Gail Cameron Somodi; their husbands Vincas Steponaitis and Daniel Somodi; and four grandchildren, Elena and Lillian Steponaitis and Katherine and Daniel Somodi. Don leaves behind many treasured memories, among them his love of family, his abiding interest in birds, his subtle quick wit, and his gift for rigorous inquiry. The family wishes to express its gratitude to the DuBose Health Center at The Cedars of Chapel Hill and to UNC Hospice for the care they provided in the final days of his life. Interment will be private and a celebration of his life will be held by the family at a later date.