Richard Dodd

Madison - Richard "Arthur" Dodd died at home in Madison on Friday, Nov. 18, 2011 as a result of cancer first diagnosed in 2007.

Arthur was born on February 11, 1922 in the English Midlands to Richard and Harriet Dodd. During WWII he worked in the Rolls-Royce foundries, manufacturer of fighter engines for the British RAF planes, and was a member of the anti-aircraft group in the Home Guard. In 1944 Arthur graduated B.S. (Chemistry) from the University of London and in 1947 M.S. (Crystallography) from the University of London.

In 1947, he married Marie nee Armistead and for the next three years they resided in Birmingham, England where Arthur worked towards his Ph.D. degree in metallurgy. The degree was awarded in 1950 and their first child Richard was born early in February of that same year. In December 1950 the family moved to Johannesburg, South Africa where Arthur had been offered a teaching position at the University of the Witwatersrand. The family enjoyed travel throughout the southern African region. In 1954 the family moved briefly to Ottawa, Canada where their eldest daughter Joanna was born in 1956. Arthur then joined the faculty of the University of Pennsylvania. His two younger daughters were born in Philadelphia, Judith in 1957 and Jane in 1959. The family moved to Madison in 1959 after Arthur received an offer to join the Department of Mining and Metallurgy at the University of Wisconsin.

Arthur was active in initiating a graduate program in Materials Science at the UW and later, in 1974, he became chairperson of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering. He had many graduate students from countries throughout the world. He was awarded many research grants and published over 150 technical papers. In 1974 he was awarded the degree of Doctor of Science by the University of London for contributions to metallurgical science. He was also a member of many professional and honorary technical societies including Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry of London and Sigma Xi.

Arthur was an avid golfer and since 1963 was a member of Cherokee Country Club where he was the oldest active member. He loved spending time in his greenhouse, playing bridge, and watching Wisconsin sports and the English soccer league. He was fortunate to make many worldwide travels with his wife Marie and has lectured in China, Russia, India, Malaysia, Japan, New Zealand, and many European and South African countries. Since 1976 Arthur was an active member of Community of Hope United Church of Christ where he served as Deacon, Elder and Clerk of Session.

Arthur is survived by his wife Marie, son Richard (Marilyn) Dodd, daughters Joanna (Henry) Schwebach, Judith (Jim) Mills, and Jane (Wayde) Peroceschi, and grandchildren Alex (Shawn) Kelly, Richard Schwebach, Ian Mills, and Seth Mills, and sister Barbara Wallace.

Arthur will be remembered by his family, students, colleagues and friends for his dry wit, creativity, amazing memory, curiosity, kindness, and generosity.

A memorial service will be held at COMMUNITY OF HOPE UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST, 7118 Old Sauk Road, Madison, on Friday, December 2, 2011, at 3:00 p.m. with Pastor Tisha Brown officiating. A memorial gathering will follow the service until 5:00 p.m.


In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Community of Hope United Church of Christ, Agrace HospiceCare, or the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the UW-Madison.