Hy Saigull Obituary (2007)

Hy Saigull, nee Hayim Segal of Columbus, died Sept. 2, 2007. Born in Jerusalem, Palestine on Sept. 30, 1927. Graduated from French Alliance Israelite Elementary School in 1941 with a French Certificate of Elementary Studies and from British George High School with Matriculations from London, England and Cambridge Universities in 1946. After serving in the Jewish Settlement Police, accepted to the Hebrew University (H.U.) in 1947. Studies were interrupted by the War of Independence, and resumed after Israel became a state on May 14, 1948. M.Sc. in Organic Chemistry in 1954. First Ph.D. graduate of the Weizmann Institute of Science (W.I.S.) in Rehovoth, Israel in 1959. Awarded the W.I.S. Travel Stipend to the U.S. for two consecutive Postdoctoral Research Fellowships: Washington Univ. in St. Louis (1yr.), and the Univ. of Texas in Austin (1 ¼ yrs. 1960 – 1) where elected to the Sigma Xi. Returned to the U.S. in 1963 for Cancer Research (1 ¼ yrs.) with Prof. Charles Price, then President of the American Chemical Society (ACS) at the Univ. of Pennsylvania. Married Philadelphian Selma Gettes. In 1964 joined ABBOTT Labs in North Chicago to head new Research Information Services until March 1967. Joined ACS Chemical Abstract Services (CAS) in Columbus, OH where he specialized in Computer Indexing and Editing of the Nomenclature of Carbohydrates and Nucleic Acids. Hy is believed to have named more “Sugars” in his 29 years at CAS than any other known scientist during a similar period, which may account for Texan – exaggerated fondness for sweets. Retired from ACS-CAS in March 1995. He is survived by wife, Selma (Gettes) Saigull. Graveside service will be held 1 PM, Weds., Sept, 5, 2007 at Green Lawn Cemetery with Rabbi Sharon Mars officiating. Contributions to be made to the local Arthritis & Diabetes Foundations.