Charles Albert Schmuttenmaer, 56, of New Haven, Connecticut, died of a heart attack on July 26, 2020 at home. Born in Oak Park, he played youth baseball and hockey, worked at Competitive Foot, and was captain of the Junior Engineering Technical Society, which competed at the University of Illinois. He attended Lincoln School and was introduced to his first love, chemistry, at Oak Park and River Forest High School, by Dr. Allison. He never looked back. From Oak Park to Berkeley to Rochester to New Haven, his curiosity, optimism and dedication made him known nationwide and worldwide.
As a Yale University professor of chemistry, he was a founding member of the Yale Green Energy Consortium and a pioneer in physical chemistry. He led the Schmuttenmaer Research Group on novel applications of terahertz spectroscopy, which increases the efficiency of solar energy technology.
His professional associations included the American Chemical Society, the American Physical Society, the Optical Society of America, the Royal Society, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
He was a brilliant man who enjoyed family, traveling, croquet, karaoke, and courteously discussing political views.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Yale Hunger and Homelessness Action Project, the American Chemical Society, or Garden Center Services, a group serving disabled individuals at 10444 S. Kedzie, Chicago 60655.
Funeral arrangements are incomplete.
