Obituaries

Joseph J. Tufariello, professor emeritus in the Department of Chemistry and former dean of UB’s Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, died on Nov. 28 in Eugene, Oregon, where he had moved to be near family. He was 87.

Tufariello enjoyed a long and distinguished career at UB that began in 1963. He served as chair of the Department of Chemistry from 1984 to 1991, when he was named acting dean of the former Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, which encompassed the departments of Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics, Geology, Astronomy and Computer Science. His appointment was made permanent the following year, and he served in the position until the faculty was merged with the faculties of Arts and Letters, and Social Sciences into the College of Arts and Sciences in the late 1990s. After the merger, he returned to the chemistry faculty, and later served as senior vice provost for educational technology.

Tufariello also was instrumental in planning for the Natural Sciences Complex, which was built on the North Campus in the 1990s.

He retired from UB in 2003, while continuing his research as a professor emeritus. His work focused on developing new ways to synthesize chemical compounds for use in antibiotics, tranquilizers and antitumor drugs.

In 2003, Tufariello generously established an endowment in memory of his parents. The Joseph and Louise K. Tufariello Award continues to be presented to a graduating outstanding senior in the Department of Chemistry as selected by the Undergraduate Affairs Committee.

A native of Brooklyn, Tufariello graduated from Queens College in 1957 and earned a PhD in organic chemistry from the University of Wisconsin in 1961.

He enjoyed biking, nature walks, crossword puzzles and rooting for his beloved New York Yankees.