Thomas Bitterwolf, an engaged community member and professor with the University of Idaho Department of Chemistry, died in his campus office Jan. 30.
The 72-year-old had recently been diagnosed with cancer. Cathy Mabbutt, Latah county coroner, could not be reached for comment regarding Bitterwolf’s official cause of death.
Along with his 30-year tenure as a professor at UI, Bitterwolf was a local Boy Scouts Leader, a member of the Moscow Food Co-op’s board of directors and received numerous teaching and chemistry awards.
Before beginning his career at UI in 1988, Bitterwolf taught at the Navy Nuclear Power School and then at the U.S. Naval Academy. He taught multiple organic chemistry courses and was a large part of the chemistry department honors program at UI.
For Adam Valaydon-Pillay, Bitterwolf was more than an instructor — he was an inspiration.
“I’ve worked with him for quite a while,” Valaydon-Pillay said. “He became one of the single most influential people in my life.”
Department of Chemistry Chair Ray von Wandruszka said Bitterwolf had been making that same impact on students since they first starting working together in 1988.
In the beginning of their relationship, Wandruszka knew Bitterwolf as both a professor and a member of the Navy, which he was part of for 23 years.
“Periodically he would put on his fancy (Navy) suit, leave the Palouse and head for D.C.,” Wandruszka said. “He was, as he said it, going to defend the country.”
After retiring from the Navy, Bitterwolf dove into projects with the university and the community. People knew him as a free spirit with a great deal of knowledge to share, Wandruszka said.
Bitterwolf taught many of the higher level chemistry courses and labs, Wandruszka said. His research and teaching focus surrounded inorganic chemistry and organometallic photochemistry. However, among all the complicated lectures and lab work, Wandruszka said Bitterwolf took those challenges and made his classes into a performance.
“Teaching is sort of like a show,” Wandruszka said. “Bitterwolf definitely knew how to put on a show. He was the star.”
Because of his teaching style, Wandruszka and Valaydon-Pillay said many chemistry students remember Bitterwolf long after their first class with him.
“A few years ago, I heard a few undergrads speaking with the parents of perspective chemistry students. One after the other, each one started in on how great their first lab with Bitterwolf was,” Wandruszka said. “He had such caring and extensive relationships with his students.”
Wandruszka said various chemistry department faculty members will take on Bitterwolf’s classes for the spring semester.
“Students will continue to get the education they deserve, but they will, unfortunately, miss that show he always put on,” Wandruszka said.
Bitterwolf’s relationships extended far outside the university. Among his various community engagements, he was the treasurer for the Moscow Food Co-Op board of directors.
Idgi Potter, president of the board, said Bitterwolf held that position for almost a year and was a role model for other board members.
“We will miss his years of wisdom. He had such a breadth of experience,” Potter said. “With Tom being an elder member in the community and having so many relationships with younger people from teaching, he could connect with all groups of people,” Potter said.
Valaydon-Pillay said Bitterwolf’s zest for life came from the “Try It” mantra — a saying that hangs high in his lab.
That same saying often made the third floor of Malcolm Renfrew Hall busy with admiring and eager students.
“The east end of this building was always buzzing with people,” Wandruszka said. “His kind of chemistry always brought good people.”
Valaydon-Pillay said he will always remember Bitterwolf — whom he, like many others, affectionately called “Doc” — with an open door and welcoming presence.
“His door closed so suddenly,” Valaydon-Pillay said. “It’s going to feel pretty empty around here for a long time.”
Bitterwolf is survived by his wife, children and grandchildren.
In lieu of a funeral, a celebration of Bitterwolf’s life will take place 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday in the Vandal Ballroom of the Pitman Center, according to Short’s Funeral Chapel.
The university encourages those affected by Bitterwolf’s death to reach out to UI’s Counseling and Testing Center at 208-885-6716 or to file a VandalCARE report at vandalcare.uidaho.edu.
Hailey Stewart can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter at @HaileyAStew
Editor’s note: A previous version of this article mis-listed the phone number of the UI Counseling and Testing Center.