David Bailey

David Bailey, Professor of Chemistry, Dies at 61

David N. Bailey, professor of chemistry at Illinois Wesleyan University, died Wednesday (Jan. 29). He was 61.

A memorial service will be held at 5 p.m. on Sunday (Feb. 2) at the First Presbyterian Church (corner of Hershey and College in Normal). A campus Celebration of Life for Dave will be at 5 p.m. on Wednesday (Feb. 5) in Evelyn Chapel. Visitation will be from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday (Feb. 1) at Fist Presbyterian Church.

Bailey joined the Illinois Wesleyan faculty in 1980 and specialized in analytical chemistry, instrumental analysis, and inorganic chemistry. He served as head of the chemistry department from 1980 to 1989 and was director of the Division of Natural Sciences from 1990 to 1995.

"Dave was an important faculty leader who played a crucial role in planning and building the Center for Natural Sciences," said Janet McNew, Provost and Dean of Faculty. "His determination to continue to teach students and mentor young colleagues even as he struggled with a deadly cancer exemplified remarkable courage and character. He has been a lesson and an inspiration to us all."

In recognition of Bailey's impact on the University in general and the department of chemistry in particular, a new endowed prize has been established in his honor, and the Bailey Prize will be awarded to a graduating chemistry major at commencement each year.

Bailey’s special areas of expertise included analysis of body fluids for drugs of abuse. In the mid-1980s, he devised a reliable and cost-effective test, in cooperation with State Farm Insurance Companies, to determine whether or not life insurance applicants had smoked within the past 24 to 36 hours.

In addition, Bailey was one of four Illinois Wesleyan chemistry professors who received a National Science Foundation grant to develop a two-year curriculum and to write a two-volume textbook. The Illinois Wesleyan team of Bailey, Timothy R. Rettich, Forrest Frank, and Jeff Frick published the two-book set, Integrated Chemistry: A Two-Year General and Organic Chemistry Sequence, in 1999. Bailey had particular interest in the use of computer technology in the teaching of chemistry.

A native of Pittsburgh, Pa., Bailey received his bachelor of science degree from Juniata College and then earned the M.A. and Ph.D. degrees from Massachusetts Institute of Technology where he majored in analytical chemistry. He was awarded National Science Foundation Graduate Fellowships on three occasions and a National Institutes of Health Graduate Fellowship from 1966 to 1968.

He conducted additional work at Argonne National Labs, Purdue University, and the National Computer Educator’s Institute.

Bailey was assistant professor of chemistry at Gustavus Adolphus College in Minnesota from 1968 to 1971. He then moved to Lebanon Valley College in Pennsylvania before joining the Illinois Wesleyan faculty.

Bailey was a member of the American Chemical Society, serving on the Division of Analytical Chemistry’s Committee on Education, and the Society of Phi Kappa Phi. He also held membership in the Society of Sigma Xi and was the local chapter president on two occasions.

He was a member of the Illinois Math and Science Academy University Affiliates board, member and chair of the Lead Poisoning Task Force for the McLean County Health Department, and an organizing member of the Midwestern Universities Analytical Chemistry Conference.

Bailey is survived by his wife, Sally, and their three children, David G. Bailey of Lexington, Lauren Rasberry of Honolulu, and Allan D. bailey of Mesa, Ariz.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the First Presbyterian Church Building Fund, Juniata College, or Illinois Wesleyan.