Harold Mukamal

Dr. Mukamal was born in Baghdad, Iraq on November 8, 1939, the second of five children of Louise and Isaac Sassoon Mukamal. With his parents and siblings, he immigrated to the United States shortly after he became a Bar Mitzvah at the age of 13. The family settled in Hewlett, New York, where he completed high school. He graduated from the Cooper Union in 1961 with a degree in Chemical Engineering and earned a PhD in Polymer Chemistry from the Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute (now NYU) in 1966. He then pursued a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Iowa. During his professional career as a polymer chemist, he worked at a number of companies, including Dupont, Swedlow, Monsanto and GE. His early career at Dupont was noteworthy for his contributions to the development of bullet-proof fibers like Kevlar, but his expertise in coatings, rubber, and plastics appeared in an incredible array of products, including photochromic lenses that darken in sunlight, military jet windshields, and automobile tires. At the conclusion of his career, he held 13 separate patents.

Harold was first and foremost devoted to his family. He was joyfully married to his beloved wife, Arlene nee Devins, for 61 years. He was the proud and devoted father of Ken (Gale Fiarman); Debbie; and Heidi (Gil Koresh), and a wonderful and engaged Poppa to his six grandchildren, Alexander, Will, Isaac, Zoe, Devin and Sasha. He is also survived by his three brothers, Ronald, Joseph, and Edmond Mukamal and was predeceased by his sister Lila.

Donations can be made in Dr. Mukamal’s memory to the following organizations: Parkinsons Association of Orange County (https://paocinc.org/); Orange County Tremble Clefs (https://octrembleclefs.org/); and Chabad of Aliso Viejo and Laguna Woods (https://www.chabadofalisoviejo.com/).