It’s an unusual person who can teach beginning chemistry students one day and advise leading scientists at NASA the next – but Henry Heubusch ’45, MS ’48, HON ’92 was one such man.
The former chemistry professor and rocket scientist passed away on Tuesday, July 11 at the age of 92.
After receiving undergraduate and graduate degrees in chemistry from Canisius, Heubusch went to work as a quality control manager for the Direct Sales Pharmaceutical Co. before joining Bell Aerospace in 1951. He spent the next 33 years as Bell’s chief chemist. A research scientist and expert in propellant chemistry, Heubusch designed, staffed and directed Bell’s propellants research laboratory, which supported such NASA projects as the Apollo 11 mission to the moon, the Mercury and the Gemini. The U.S. Army, Navy and Air Force also used Heubusch’s propellants.
Heubusch retired from Bell in 1984 and joined the faculty at Canisius. In 1992, the college conferred upon him an honorary doctorate degree for his impressive achievements in aerospace.
Click here to read Henry Heubusch’s full obituary, published in The Buffalo News.
