Malcolm Harold Chisholm

Malcolm Harold Chisholm, renowned professor of inorganic chemistry, died at his home in Worthington, Ohio on Friday, Nov. 20 at the age of 70 following a brave battle with cancer. Born in 1945 in Mumbai (Bombay), India to Scottish parents, Angus and Gweneth Chisholm, raised and educated in England, Malcolm graduated with high honors in chemistry from Queen Mary’s College, University of London in 1966. This achievement came as something of a shock to his professors, and even to himself, since he nearly gave up university to pursue a career in music promotion. As Social Director for the Students’ Union, Malcolm spent much of undergraduate years booking and promoting rock concerts by rising stars from the late 60’s London music scene, like Eric Clapton, The Yardbirds, and The Who! Malcolm became known as “Big M”—a moniker befitting his Mick Jagger style of dancing, his gold-tipped Black Russian cigarettes, and his sweet-talking entrepreneurial spirit. While never giving up his love of music and dancing, Malcolm shifted his abundant energy to the world of science, earning a Ph.D. in Inorganic Chemistry from Queen Mary’s College in 1969. After a post-doctoral appointment at The University of Western Ontario, Malcolm accepted his first faculty position at Princeton (1972-1978), followed by 22 years at Indiana University Bloomington (1978-2000), and 15 years at Ohio State University (2000-2015). Malcolm’s research was primarily focused on metal-metal multiple bonds. He was a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (London), and a member of the National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, as well as many other eminent institutions around the world. He was the recipient of many prestigious grants, prizes and awards, including the American Chemical Society Award for Distinguished Service in the Advancement of Inorganic Chemistry in 1999. Equal to his scientific contributions, Malcolm was recognized in his field as an exceedingly supportive colleague and nurturing mentor to thousands of young scientists. He was most gratified by the successes of his students, many of whom became his life-long friends. Above all, Malcolm will be remembered by all who knew him as a modest, generous and caring person who, despite his many career demands, always found time to write a card, make a phone call, or drive out of the way to squeeze in a visit. With his charming, earthy manner, he made new friends wherever he went, and always kept in touch with old ones. To his children, grandchildren and his late wife of 30 years, Cynthia (née Brown), he was adoring and kind. A vegetarian since early childhood, he loved nature, studying the weather, a good snow and Christmas. And, of course, he never lost his eagerness to throw a great party. In his sixty-eighth year, Big M hosted an “Eight-to-Eight” party, and curated the latest and best dance music to entertain his guests. In his last days, he said he had had a “wonderful life.” Malcolm is survived by his son Selby, daughter-in-law Soobin and granddaughter Oona; his son Derek and daughter-in-law Lauren; his son Calum (with first wife Susan Sage-Heinzelman), daughter-in-law Erica Rolufs and granddaughters Fleur and Soleil; his Aunt Chrissy of Inverness, Scotland; his canine pal and traveling companion, Butters, and countless friends around the globe. Funeral services will take place on December 5th at 1:30pm at St. John's Episcopal Church, 700 High St., Worthington, OH. Arrangements by RUTHERFORD-CORBIN FUNERAL HOME, 515 High St., Worthington, OH 43085.

Malcolm Harold Chisholm

October 15, 1945 - November 20, 2015