Julianne P. "Julie" Penberthy Harmon, 71, of Tampa, Florida, passed away on Tuesday, January 26, 2021 at Advent Health Tampa Hospital. Dr. Julie Harmon was a pioneer for women in chemistry.
She was born in Erie, Pennsylvania on March 28, 1949, a daughter of the late Burl and Madeline Cecho Penberthy. Julie graduated from Mercyhurst Preparatory School. At MPS, she was a member of the science club for three years, serving as president her senior year. When her high school peers chose words to describe her in their yearbook, they listed "scientific" and "likable." She received a bachelor's degree in Chemistry from Mercyhurst College, Erie, PA.
Miss Penberthy moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and received her Master's Degree in Biochemistry at Duquesne University. She taught Chemistry at Duquesne where she met her husband. She married Robert "Chip" H. Harmon on December 29, 1973. They had an exciting life together traveling, boating, scuba diving and snorkeling around the world, snow skiing and adopting many found kittens.
The couple moved to Rochester, NY, where Mrs. Harmon worked for Eastman Kodak. She received her PhD in Material Science with Emphasis on Polymers at University of Rochester., Rochester, New York.
The couple then moved to Gainesville, Florida, where Dr. Harmon taught Chemistry at the University of Florida. At the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida, where they moved next, Dr. Harmon taught as a chemistry and biochemistry professor and was Advisor for PhD candidates for 25 years. At USF she worked with colleagues in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, physics and geology. Being a professor and mentoring students, especially women, was her greatest love in life.
Dr. Julie Harmon held ten patents and successfully developed many uses of polymers such as color photocopy inks for Eastman Kodak; radiation-resistant coatings and polymers for goggles and glasses to prevent yellowing with age; methods of chemically detecting improvised explosive devices for the armed forces; specialty materials for NASA; polymer nanotubes to support buildings, airplanes and spacecraft; magnetized polymers for water pipes to filter out lead and other metals from drinking water; etc.
In February, after her death, Dr. Julie Harmon was named a senior member of the National Academy of Inventors. In Dr. Harmon's memory, a Chair of Biochemistry has been created at the University of South Florida, Tampa. She was a previous member of St. Boniface Catholic Church and a current member of the American Chemical Society.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by a sister, Jamie Miranda of Erie and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, a private funeral mass was held at St. Boniface Catholic Church with interment at Calvary Cemetery.
Information from Erie Times News, Tampa Bay Times and Mercyhurst Preparatory School Alumni Newsletter.
She was born in Erie, Pennsylvania on March 28, 1949, a daughter of the late Burl and Madeline Cecho Penberthy. Julie graduated from Mercyhurst Preparatory School. At MPS, she was a member of the science club for three years, serving as president her senior year. When her high school peers chose words to describe her in their yearbook, they listed "scientific" and "likable." She received a bachelor's degree in Chemistry from Mercyhurst College, Erie, PA.
Miss Penberthy moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and received her Master's Degree in Biochemistry at Duquesne University. She taught Chemistry at Duquesne where she met her husband. She married Robert "Chip" H. Harmon on December 29, 1973. They had an exciting life together traveling, boating, scuba diving and snorkeling around the world, snow skiing and adopting many found kittens.
The couple moved to Rochester, NY, where Mrs. Harmon worked for Eastman Kodak. She received her PhD in Material Science with Emphasis on Polymers at University of Rochester., Rochester, New York.
The couple then moved to Gainesville, Florida, where Dr. Harmon taught Chemistry at the University of Florida. At the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida, where they moved next, Dr. Harmon taught as a chemistry and biochemistry professor and was Advisor for PhD candidates for 25 years. At USF she worked with colleagues in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, physics and geology. Being a professor and mentoring students, especially women, was her greatest love in life.
Dr. Julie Harmon held ten patents and successfully developed many uses of polymers such as color photocopy inks for Eastman Kodak; radiation-resistant coatings and polymers for goggles and glasses to prevent yellowing with age; methods of chemically detecting improvised explosive devices for the armed forces; specialty materials for NASA; polymer nanotubes to support buildings, airplanes and spacecraft; magnetized polymers for water pipes to filter out lead and other metals from drinking water; etc.
In February, after her death, Dr. Julie Harmon was named a senior member of the National Academy of Inventors. In Dr. Harmon's memory, a Chair of Biochemistry has been created at the University of South Florida, Tampa. She was a previous member of St. Boniface Catholic Church and a current member of the American Chemical Society.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by a sister, Jamie Miranda of Erie and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, a private funeral mass was held at St. Boniface Catholic Church with interment at Calvary Cemetery.
Information from Erie Times News, Tampa Bay Times and Mercyhurst Preparatory School Alumni Newsletter.
Julianne P. "Julie" Penberthy Harmon, 71, of Tampa, Florida, passed away on Tuesday, January 26, 2021 at Advent Health Tampa Hospital. Dr. Julie Harmon was a pioneer for women in chemistry.
She was born in Erie, Pennsylvania on March 28, 1949, a daughter of the late Burl and Madeline Cecho Penberthy. Julie graduated from Mercyhurst Preparatory School. At MPS, she was a member of the science club for three years, serving as president her senior year. When her high school peers chose words to describe her in their yearbook, they listed "scientific" and "likable." She received a bachelor's degree in Chemistry from Mercyhurst College, Erie, PA.
Miss Penberthy moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and received her Master's Degree in Biochemistry at Duquesne University. She taught Chemistry at Duquesne where she met her husband. She married Robert "Chip" H. Harmon on December 29, 1973. They had an exciting life together traveling, boating, scuba diving and snorkeling around the world, snow skiing and adopting many found kittens.
The couple moved to Rochester, NY, where Mrs. Harmon worked for Eastman Kodak. She received her PhD in Material Science with Emphasis on Polymers at University of Rochester., Rochester, New York.
The couple then moved to Gainesville, Florida, where Dr. Harmon taught Chemistry at the University of Florida. At the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida, where they moved next, Dr. Harmon taught as a chemistry and biochemistry professor and was Advisor for PhD candidates for 25 years. At USF she worked with colleagues in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, physics and geology. Being a professor and mentoring students, especially women, was her greatest love in life.
Dr. Julie Harmon held ten patents and successfully developed many uses of polymers such as color photocopy inks for Eastman Kodak; radiation-resistant coatings and polymers for goggles and glasses to prevent yellowing with age; methods of chemically detecting improvised explosive devices for the armed forces; specialty materials for NASA; polymer nanotubes to support buildings, airplanes and spacecraft; magnetized polymers for water pipes to filter out lead and other metals from drinking water; etc.
In February, after her death, Dr. Julie Harmon was named a senior member of the National Academy of Inventors. In Dr. Harmon's memory, a Chair of Biochemistry has been created at the University of South Florida, Tampa. She was a previous member of St. Boniface Catholic Church and a current member of the American Chemical Society.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by a sister, Jamie Miranda of Erie and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, a private funeral mass was held at St. Boniface Catholic Church with interment at Calvary Cemetery.
Information from Erie Times News, Tampa Bay Times and Mercyhurst Preparatory School Alumni Newsletter.
She was born in Erie, Pennsylvania on March 28, 1949, a daughter of the late Burl and Madeline Cecho Penberthy. Julie graduated from Mercyhurst Preparatory School. At MPS, she was a member of the science club for three years, serving as president her senior year. When her high school peers chose words to describe her in their yearbook, they listed "scientific" and "likable." She received a bachelor's degree in Chemistry from Mercyhurst College, Erie, PA.
Miss Penberthy moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and received her Master's Degree in Biochemistry at Duquesne University. She taught Chemistry at Duquesne where she met her husband. She married Robert "Chip" H. Harmon on December 29, 1973. They had an exciting life together traveling, boating, scuba diving and snorkeling around the world, snow skiing and adopting many found kittens.
The couple moved to Rochester, NY, where Mrs. Harmon worked for Eastman Kodak. She received her PhD in Material Science with Emphasis on Polymers at University of Rochester., Rochester, New York.
The couple then moved to Gainesville, Florida, where Dr. Harmon taught Chemistry at the University of Florida. At the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida, where they moved next, Dr. Harmon taught as a chemistry and biochemistry professor and was Advisor for PhD candidates for 25 years. At USF she worked with colleagues in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, physics and geology. Being a professor and mentoring students, especially women, was her greatest love in life.
Dr. Julie Harmon held ten patents and successfully developed many uses of polymers such as color photocopy inks for Eastman Kodak; radiation-resistant coatings and polymers for goggles and glasses to prevent yellowing with age; methods of chemically detecting improvised explosive devices for the armed forces; specialty materials for NASA; polymer nanotubes to support buildings, airplanes and spacecraft; magnetized polymers for water pipes to filter out lead and other metals from drinking water; etc.
In February, after her death, Dr. Julie Harmon was named a senior member of the National Academy of Inventors. In Dr. Harmon's memory, a Chair of Biochemistry has been created at the University of South Florida, Tampa. She was a previous member of St. Boniface Catholic Church and a current member of the American Chemical Society.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by a sister, Jamie Miranda of Erie and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, a private funeral mass was held at St. Boniface Catholic Church with interment at Calvary Cemetery.
Information from Erie Times News, Tampa Bay Times and Mercyhurst Preparatory School Alumni Newsletter.
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