Manuel (Mike) Esayian

Manuel (Mike) Esayian, passed away peacefully in Naples, Florida on Friday, February 17, 2017. He was 88. Born December 12, 1928, in Cleveland, Ohio, Mike was a warm, funny, and compassionate man. He had a gift of friendship that transcended throughout his life. Raised in Cleveland, he received his undergraduate, master’s and doctorate degrees from Case Western Reserve University and was awarded a Ph.D. in organic polymer chemistry in 1960. Dr. Esayian, a resident of Wilmington, Delaware for 48 years, was a chemist. He was a Development Manager for TEFLON resins and films at the DuPont Company’s plastics and electronic departments. Between 1953 and 1960, he worked as a research chemist for the Sherwin Williams and B.F. Goodrich companies and as a cryogenics engineer with the Atomic Energy Commission in the Marshall Islands Pacific Proving Grounds. He joined DuPont in 1960 as a research chemist at the Experimental Station where he worked on new polymeric materials. He later worked as a technical representative at Chestnut Run and as a field marketing representative in the TEFLON fluoropolymers group. He later helped introduce NAFION membranes to the U.S. and International chloralkali industries. After retiring from DuPont, he formed a consulting business serving the high performance films and fuel cell technology markets. During this time, he worked closely with W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc. and the University of South Carolina where he was Deputy Director of the Fuel Cell Research Group in the Department of Chemical Engineering. Mike served in the Ohio National Guard (1945-46) and the United States Marine Corps (1946-48, 1950-51). He has been a member of the American Chemical Society, Society of Plastics Engineers, the Electrochemical Society, Sigma Xi, honorary scientific research society and the Plastics Pioneers of America. He served for four years as a member of the Wilmington Planning Commission and was past president of the Westwood Manor and Westmorland Civic Associations. As a member of Trinity Episcopal Church, he served on the Vestry and as a Communion Assistant. Later, he became a member of Christ Church Christiana Hundred where he served as a Communion Assistant Pastoral Careperson. In Delaware he was a member of the Wilmington Country Club, DuPont Country Club and the Lincoln Club of Delaware as well as a member of Spring Run Golf Club in Bonita Springs, Florida. Mike enjoyed golf, travel, historical biographies and his beloved Cleveland Indians and Cleveland Browns. Duplicate Bridge was a later passion as he became a sanctioned club director for the American Contract Bridge League. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Genevieve (Genny); and beloved children, Gary and daughter-in-law Claire Bienen of New York City; Deborah of Bonita Springs, Florida; a grandson, Nicholas Bienen-Esayian of Evanston, Illinois and a granddaughter, Emmie Elizabeth Esayian, of Bonita Springs, Florida and a brother Samuel of Bellevue, Washington. A memorial service celebrating Mike’s life will be held on March 25, 2017 at 11:00am at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, Bonita Springs, Florida. Burial will be private in Arlington National Cemetery. Given the importance Mike placed on education, in lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to Case Western Reserve University Chemistry Department at giving.case.edu/chemistry. Arrangements are being handled by Shikany's Bonita Funeral Home.

Manuel (Mike) Esayian

December 12, 1928 - February 17, 2017