William L. Mancini ’67
William L. Mancini, Phoenix, AZ, died April 24, 2024, of complications from Parkinson’s disease.
After earning his undergraduate degree in chemistry from Saint Michael’s Hank went on for his master’s (1970) and doctoral (1972) degrees in chemistry from the University of New Hampshire.
Hank was born in New Jersey. His mother was a Registered Nurse (RN), and his father owned a painting business, and his one sibling, a younger sister, eventually became a nurse too.
As an undergraduate at Saint Michael’s, Hank was tutoring nursing students who were taking chemistry classes as part of their degree requirements when he met his future wife, Elizabeth “Lea” Papageorge. They were married in 1967 and had two daughters.
Hank’s professional career included working for the Corneal Sciences Incorporated (CSI) in Boston, MA, as a research chemist. He was part of a team researching various polymers for use in soft (extended wear) contact lenses. He was charged with developing the process of producing stable batches of this new hydrogel material. He was awarded four patents, two on the material and two on the thin lens design.
In 1979, after the company where he worked was sold to Syntex Corporation from Palo Alto, CA, he transferred from Boston to Phoenix. During his tenure with Syntex, he served in various roles, including polymer research supervisor, lens production assistant, QA/QC manager, EPA Compliance Office, and OSHA/safety liaison. The company closed in January 1989. Between 1989 and 1994, Hank was co-owner of a consulting firm that specialized in FDA regulations, OSHA regulations, and EPA regulations.
In August 1994, Hank made the transition from research chemist to professor of chemistry. He was hired to build the organic chemistry program at Paradise Valley Community College (PVCC) in Phoenix. During his tenure at PVCC, he served as the faculty senate president and the Science Division chair. In addition, in 1995, he established the Annual Science Symposium, which was renamed in his honor to the “Annual Mancini Science Symposium” at his retirement in 2012. He developed transfer programs with the state universities, and he also developed one with Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara (UAG) in Mexico. He loved being in the classroom.
Hank was a man of exceptional talents. He was an avid sports fan and die-hard Indianapolis Colts fan. When not working his day job, he spent 34 years as an avid football official who worked hard to keep the game for the players. He was inducted into the Western States Football League (WSFL) and the Arizona Football Officials Association (AZFOA) Halls of Fame. In addition, he obtained his private pilot’s license in 1989. He was also a wicked smart poker player.
After retirement, Hank spent his time with his life partner, Casey Durandet, whom he met at PVCC, working with her on offering STEM summer camps for high school students. In addition, he continued to work for that college as an adjunct chemistry professor, and he also volunteered as an aide in the Emergency Department at the Abrazo Scottsdale Campus Hospital and at the HonorHealth Scottsdale Thompson Peak Medical Center. He enjoyed his retirement life with Casey traveling around the country and to exotic locales.
He was a firm believer in promoting STEM fields and in helping women and underrepresented students succeed in the sciences.
Hank’s final statement to all is, “To those I have offended: Get over it – I love you! To one and all, Ciao!” He is survived by his life partner, Casey Durandet, a sister, his former wife, two daughters and extended family.