William P. Hettinger Jr. Ph.D.

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Dr. William P. Hettinger

Hettinger, Dr. William P., died after a brief illness on Friday, Dec. 2, 2011 in Boca Raton, FL. He was 89. Preceded in death by his youngest daughter, Sally, he is survived by his wife of 67 years, Alice, and their children, Diana (John) Inserra, William (Jill) Hettinger III, and Scott (Mary Ellen) Hettinger. His grandchildren, Alison and Laura Inserra and Christian, Erik, Marcella and Colin Hettinger are also left to cherish his memory. Dr. Hettinger earned his bachelor's degree in Chemistry from Purdue University in 1947 and his Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from Northwestern University in 1951. He began his collegiate study at Aurora (Illinois) College in 1940 before serving in WWII as a B-24 bomber pilot, earning the air medal, oak leaf cluster, and four battle stars. He began his career in 1950 with Sinclair Oil, moving to Nalco Chemical Company in 1957. His career included executive positions with Davison Chemical, Engelhard Minerals, and NL Industries. In 1977 he joined Ashland Petroleum and served as VP of R&D and Director of Automotive and Product Application Lab, and president of their carbon fiber division. He retired in 1992. Dr. Hettinger took great pride in his 3-year fellowship with the National Institutes of Health doing research on aging. In 1973, Dr. Hettinger formed his own company, Organocat, to develop and patent specialized processes for improving petroleum refining and gasoline production, pursuing his passion for research well into his retirement. During his career he was granted more than 100 U.S. and foreign patents. Dr. Hettinger was one of 150 honorary life members of the New York Academy of Science. He was named an outstanding alumnus of Aurora University in 1988, when he was also named a fellow with the American Association for Advancement of Science. Dr. Hettinger was a member of the American Chemical Society, American Petroleum Institute, Kentucky Academy of Science, and the Industrial Research Institute. He belonged to the Rotary and the American Legion. Funeral Services and Burial took place in Aurora, IL for Dr. Hettinger. A Memorial Service will be held at Edgewater Pointe Estates in the auditorium on Saturday, December 17, 2011 at 3 p.m. Arrangements entrusted to Kraeer Funeral Home, www.kraeerbocaraton.com.

Hettinger, Alice (nee Mietz) Died peacefully at Hospice By The Sea in Boca Raton, FL, on Tuesday, April 8, 2014. She was 90 years old. Alice was the widow of the late William P. Hettinger Jr., to whom she was married for 67 years. She was the mother of Diana (Hettinger) Inserra, William P. Hettinger III, and Scott Hettinger. A fourth child, Sally Ann Hettinger, preceded her in death in 1968 at the age of 12. Alice also leaves behind six grandchildren, Alison (Inserra) Manderson, Laura (Inserra) Perfect, Marcella (Hettinger) Clarkson, Colin Hettinger, Christian Hettinger, and Erik Hettinger. Alice was the daughter of Edward Mietz and Meta (Hochsprung) Mietz of Aurora, IL, born July 23, 1923. She had one older sister, Evelyn (Mietz) Tesch and a younger brother, Ray, both of whom also preceded her in death. Alice attended St. Paul's Lutheran School and Aurora East High School. She later earned an associate's degree in English from Thornton Community College in Harvey, IL. Other surviving extended family members include sisters-in-law, Audrey (Hettinger) Burns and Jean Ann (Hettinger) Head; and brother-in-law, Lee Hettinger. The extended family also includes numerous nieces and nephews. Alice and her husband Bill were married in 1944 in Aurora, IL. Shortly after their wedding, her new husband went off to fly B24 missions out of Italy in World War II. When the war ended, they moved to Lafayette, IN, where Bill pursued a degree in Chemistry at Purdue University. Their first child was born there in 1947. Educational pursuits took them to Evanston, IL, where the family added a son. The family then moved to Dolton, IL, and two more children were born. They moved to Hinsdale, IL, in 1961, and then to Severna Park, MD, in 1966. Alice and Bill settled for 15 years in Ashland, KY, beginning in 1977. Bill worked in various executive positions for Ashland Oil until he retired in 1992. Alice worked as a volunteer for several years and was named president of the auxiliary at Kings Daughters Medical Center in Ashland. On retiring in 1992, Bill and Alice moved to Deerfield Beach, FL. Alice served as a volunteer and became a board member of Deerfield Beach Country Club, where she and her husband played golf regularly. In 2001 they moved to Edgewater Point Estates in Boca Raton, FL. Alice was baptized into St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Aurora, IL. Her burial will take place at the church's cemetery in Aurora, where she will be laid to rest next to her beloved husband and daughter. The family will receive visitors at St. Paul's Lutheran Church begining at 9:30 a.m. Friday, April 11, with services to follow at 11:00 a.m. The church address is 85 S. Constitution Drive, Aurora, IL. The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice By The Sea, Boca Raton, FL or St. Jude's Children's Hospital, Memphis, TN. For info call Blake-Lamb Funeral Home at (630)964-9392.

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Published in the Aurora Beacon News on Apr. 10, 2014