Some Sad News - Margaret McLean Bender Died

Margaret McLean Bender died Monday, April 28. She was the wife of Paul Bender, a long-time Professor of Chemistry. Here is the Obituary from the Wisconsin State Journal: Bender, Margaret McLean, MADISON. Margaret McLean Bender, age 91, died peacefully at Capitol Lakes Terraces on Monday, April 28, 2008. She was preceded in death in 2004 by her husband, Emeritus Professor Paul J. Bender of the UW Chemistry Department, after 63 years of marriage. Dr. Margaret Bender was an Emeritus Senior Scientist in the Institute for Environmental Studies. She retired from the Institute at the UW Center for Climate Research in 1981. She was the Director of the UW Radiocarbon Laboratory from 1963 until her retirement. Dr. Bender was a member of Phi Beta Kappa, Sigma XI, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. She was a pioneer in the field of radiocarbon dating and is widely recognized for her recognition of two distinct photosynthetic pathways through which carbon is utilized in tropical and prairie grasses. Her seminal paper describing these two pathways as C-3 for starch-accumulating gasses and as C-4 for fructosan-accumulating gasses has been widely quoted by all researchers in all the scientific fields, such as anthropology, that require accurate dating of carbon-containing materials. Her publications while at the UW-Madison totaled 31 and were primarily related to the radiocarbon dating work. Dr. Bender graduated from Mount Holyoke College magna cum laude in 1937, where she also received her master's degree and had four publications from her work with Professor Dorothy Hahn. Her Ph.D. was from Yale University in 1941 in organic chemistry with Werner Bergmann with whom she had three publications. She held an instructor appointment from 1941-1942 at Connecticut College for Women and a post-doctoral appointment at Yale University from 1942-1943. From 1943-1945, she held a post-doctoral appointment at the University of Wisconsin- Madison and a lecturer appointment from 1951-1970 with the UW Extension. Her primary teaching responsibilities were with students from the nursing program. She served as Director of the UW Radiocarbon Laboratory from 1963-1981. Margaret and Paul were integral to the development of the UW Chemistry Department and hosted many assistant professors and their families as they found their places in the Madison community. Margaret was particularly knowledgeable about plants and gardens, and many neighbors and colleagues were the recipients of garden plants, flowers, and vegetables for which Margaret could provide their botanical names. She was also a particular role model for women in science and was interviewed concerning her experiences in what was primarily male environment in the early 1940s. Her thoughts and impressions were taped as part of a UW series "Women in Science and Engineering," that was developed by the UW-Madison Oral History Project as part of the archives section at Steenbock Memorial Library. Margaret is survived by four grand nieces, Vicki Smith of La Quinta, Calif., Wilma Kahn of Kingwood, Texas, Wini Mercer of Overland Park, Kan., and Pam Conckle of Los Angeles, Calif. A memorial service will be held at a later date. Cress Funeral and Cremation Service 3610 Speedway Road (608) 238-3434 http://www.cressfuneralservice.com.