AlumniReview32014_0

letters
To THe eDITor
Remembering David Bacon
David Bacon, Professor Emeritus (Chemical Engineering)
and former dean of Applied Science, died April 13.
I received an email from Albert Norris, a professor
of mine. The subject simply read David Bacon.
I immediately knew the news was not going to be
happy. Al informed me of David’s passing.
As is the case when receiving news like this, I
began to reflect on the man who was my teacher,
my confidant and my friend. Sometimes my reflections
were with sadness, sometimes with a smile
but always with a sense of pride at being his student.
All of my professors were demanding but
David was on a level unto himself as he was one
of the most demanding teachers I ever had. When
I gave him what I thought was my best, he informed
me, in his own way, that I could do better.
I remember the simmering terror I felt going into
his exams, midterms or finals, it didn’t matter. Too
much information for my small, sleep-deprived
brain to absorb and wondering if I did well
enough or at a level that David was happy with.
When I was struggling with a decision at the
end of third year as to whether I should accept
an offer of summer employment with a Dutch
chemical company, I spoke with Professor Bacon.
I had already accepted a position when that opportunity
opened up. I thought I knew what he
would say but I also knew he would listen to me.
He did not tell me what I thought he would; it
was quite the opposite. I happily followed his
advice and ended up in Holland for a summer
working as a student engineer.
When I was having difficulty with my fourth
year thesis, I would speak with David. He was not
my thesis advisor, but again, I knew he would
listen and he would give me his view.
After graduation ceremonies in May 1979, the
department had a reception for the new grads
and their parents. When I introduced him to my
parents, he spoke with them about me and told
them what a pleasure it was to have taught me.
My parents and I never forgot his comments.
For the last twenty-five years, I would look
forward to the annual Christmas letter David sent
to my wife and me. He always signed them with
a short handwritten note afterwards telling me
how he cherished the fact we still kept in touch.
I believe I will miss these notes, most of all.
Nick Petruzzella, Sc’79, mBA‘86
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Issue 3, 2014 | alumnireview.queensu.ca 3