Orlando Aloysius Battista
Orlando Aloysius Battista (June 20, 1917 – October 3, 1995) was a Canadian-American chemist and author. He was known in particular for his inventions and patents.[1][2]
Orlando Aloysius Battista | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 20, 1917 Cornwall, Ontario, Canada |
| Died | October 3, 1995 (aged 78) |
| Occupation | Chemist and author |
| Spouse(s) | Helen Francis Keffer |
| Children | William, Elizabeth Ann |
| Parent(s) | James K. Battista |
Biography
Battista was born in Cornwall, Ontario, Canada, as the seventh of eight children. His father was a long-time Canadian government employee. As a child, he was an altar boy and earned money via shoveling snow and a newspaper route. He began writing at the age of twelve, after saving enough money to buy a typewriter.[3] Battista graduated from McGill University with a degree in chemistry.[4]
Battista published scientific papers and books to bring chemistry to laypeople throughout his career.[5]
A devout Catholic, he did not shy away from advertising his religious beliefs as well as his scientific ones.[3]
Quotes
“An error doesn't become a mistake until you refuse to correct it.”[6]
Works
Books
- How to Enjoy Work and Get More Fun Out of Life (1957)
- God's World and You (1957)
- Fundamentals of High Polymers (1958)
- The Challenge of Chemistry (1959) Illustrated by Gil Cohen.
- The Power to Influence People (1959)
- Mental Drugs; Chemistry's Challenge to Psychotherapy (1960)
- Common Science in Everyday Life (1960)
- Toward the Conquest of Cancer (1961)
- Synthetic Fibers in Papermaking (1964)
- A Dictionary of Quotations (1966)
- Childish Questions (1973) With Helen Keffer Battista. Illustrated by Keiko Couch.
- Research for Profit (1974)
- Microcrystal Polymer Science (1975)
- People Power (1977)
- O. A. Battista's Quotations : A Speaker's Dictionary (1977)
- Olympiad of Knowledge—1984 (1981)
- Amazing Habits of Ants
Awards
- Awarded an honorary Doctor of Science degree by St. Vincent College in 1955.
- Awarded the Anselme Payen Award by the American Chemical Society Cellulose and Renewable Materials Division in 1985.
- The American Chemical Society held a symposium honoring Battista on April 9, 1987 in Denver, Colorado.
Footnotes
- Rust, Curtis (1987-09-12). "Prolific inventor credits success to his refusal to conform". The Ottawa Citizen. p. 138. Retrieved 2021-07-02.
- Baker, Anita (1986-10-24). "Fort Worth inventor honored". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. p. 17. Retrieved 2021-07-02.
- Walter Romig (1960). The Book of Catholic Authors. Retrieved 2007-07-05.
- Rosenfield, Paul (1979-10-08). "He Was in Grade School When He Started Advising Big Business". Albuquerque Journal. p. 15. Retrieved 2021-07-02. Syndicated via the Los Angeles Times and the Washington Post Service.
- "Oral history interview with Orlando Aloysius Battista". Science History Institute Digital Collections. Retrieved 2021-07-02.
- Saturday Evening Post Vol. 218, no. 27, p. 57. January 5, 1946.