Richard Bader

Richard F. W. Bader, born on October 15, 1931, in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, was a pioneering quantum chemist renowned for his groundbreaking work on the atoms in molecules theory. This innovative theory sought to provide a physical foundation for key concepts in chemistry, such as atomic structure and bonding, by analyzing the topology of the electron density function in three-dimensional space. His contributions significantly influenced inorganic chemistry education in Canada, particularly through his collaboration with the esteemed chemist Ronald Gillespie.

Raised in a family that valued education, Richard was the son of Albert and Alvina Bader, who immigrated from Switzerland. His father, a butcher, and his mother, a housekeeper, instilled in him the importance of perseverance in pursuing his dreams. With the support of a scholarship from McMaster University, he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in nineteen fifty-three, followed by a Master’s degree in nineteen fifty-five. He completed his PhD at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in nineteen fifty-eight, after which he undertook postdoctoral research at both MIT and the University of Cambridge.

In nineteen fifty-nine, Bader began his academic career as an assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Ottawa, later becoming an associate professor in nineteen sixty-two. He transitioned to McMaster University in nineteen sixty-three, where he was promoted to full professor in nineteen sixty-six and remained an Emeritus Professor until nineteen ninety-six. His academic achievements were recognized when he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada in nineteen eighty and received the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Fellowship.

Throughout his illustrious career, Bader published two hundred twenty-three refereed articles and book chapters, with his work being cited over three thousand times annually in recent years. He challenged conventional theories by asserting that electron density plays a crucial role in understanding atomic behavior within molecules, leading to the publication of his influential book, 'Atoms in Molecules: A Quantum Theory,' in nineteen ninety-one. Bader also contributed to the development of the widely used software program AIMPAC, which predicts molecular properties based on atomic configurations.

In his personal life, Richard married Pamela Kozenof, a nurse from New Zealand, in nineteen fifty-eight. Together, they raised three daughters: Carolyn, Kimberly, and Suzanne, and welcomed a grandson, Alexander. Bader passed away on January 15, 2012, leaving behind a legacy of scientific innovation and education.