A car accident just north of Willits took the life of Humboldt State University Chemistry Professor William Golden Friday night, according to a Humboldt State University press release.
HSU press release follows.
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William G. Golden, 58, of Sunny Brae, Professor of Chemistry and Chair of the Departments of Chemistry and of Physics and Astronomy at Humboldt State University, was killed Friday, Nov. 19, at about 8:30 p.m. when his vehicle left the road and collided with two trees on Route 101, six miles north of Willits on Schoolhouse Hill in central Mendocino County. Cause of the accident is under investigation, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Golden joined Humboldt State in 1993 after many years as a scientist and staff engineer at IBM, San Jose. He earned his doctorate in physical chemistry in 1978 from the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.
Winner of HSU’s Outstanding Faculty Award in 1999, Golden was a member of the American Chemical Society, American Physical Society and the Society for Applied Spectroscopy, among other professional affiliations.
Steven Smith, Interim Dean of HSU’s College of Natural Resources and Sciences, said Golden brought exemplary teaching and administrative abilities to the campus. “He was respected professionally and admired personally by all who studied and worked with him,” Smith said. “He certainly will be missed.”
Funeral arrangements are pending.
This article appears in Holiday Gift Guide 2010.
Rest in peace Professor Golden.
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Incredibly sad. His particular brand of sarcasm and schtick will be missed, not to mention his formidable intelligence.
I am in complete shock about this news. Professor Golden told us Chemistry 110 students on Friday to be safe traveling this week for break because the conditions are bad…R.I.P Professor Golden. You will be missed.
Professor Golden had an infectious enthusiasm when it came to chemistry, and he could always make me laugh, even when I was having a bad day. I feel incredibly lucky to have had him for a teacher.
Tragic, terrible loss; for his family, for Humboldt. He will be missed.
RIP
Professor Golden,
You are, and will be missed.
Dr. Golden is definitely missed by so many. RIP.
So sad. He was a great teacher, in a difficult subject. Never made a biology student feel bad for not getting had. Great sense of humor. Last time I saw him he was coming out of the water from surfing with a pack of kids at Moonstone Beach. Goddammit.
not getting IT, I mean. Chemistry.
I am so sorry. you were a very important teacher in my life and I will never forget you.
I to will miss professor Golden. As a current student of his, it will be hard to go back to school Monday knowing I will not see his smile or hear him crack jokes about the yawning in class. He made chemistry fun and I finally got it. Thank you professor Golden. I will never forget you!
I’m so sad to hear this tragic news. Professor Golden was my Chemistry 110 teacher back in 1999. I was so afraid of chemistry after a bad experience with a very hard teacher at City College of San Francisco. Professor Golden made chemistry fun and made you laugh out loud during his lectures. I never thought I could actually look forward to chemistry before experiencing his teaching style! My prayers go out to his family and friends. We will all miss him terribly.
Peace and Love,
Lia
Dr. Golden had infectious personality, and incredible wit. He was absolutely the quintessential approachable genius. I will always remember the best A+ plus I ever got, a C – in Chem 109. Dr. Golden was a great friend and many days I waited on him and Dr. Zolenger having a good sushi lunch at Tomo. He always remembered I was once his student.