VERDERAME Dr. Frank Daniel Verderame

Dr. Frank Daniel Verderame, age 85, passed away peacefully at his home in Lancaster VA on December 31, 2015 of natural causes. Born January 11, 1930 in Philadelphia, PA, son of Liberato and Concetta Verderame, Frank was preceded in death by his brother John, John’s wife Rita, sister-in-law Phyllis and brother-in-law John Strunk. He is survived by siblings Peter (Carmela), L. Thomas, Philomena Strunk, Lucy Carreon (Louis) and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his ex-wife Genevieve and survived by their children Mary (Ray), John (Laura), Frank (Jeannie), Michael and Robert, eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild. He is survived by his ex-wife Deborah and their children Simon, Anna and Charles.

Dr. Verderame held a PhD in Physical Chemistry from the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA and was an accomplished scientist, and professor. He spent his early career as a chemist at Frankford Arsenal in Philadelphia working in LASER, optics and munitions basic research and held several patents in those areas. In 1976 he accepted a position with the Department of Army Research and moved to the Washington D. C. area. He was promoted to the Senior Executive Service and retired from the Department of Army, after over 30 years of service, as Assistant Director of Army Research. From 1958 to 1986, he was also employed as a physical chemistry professor by Drexel University's Chemistry/Chemical Engineering Department and served for a period of time as head of that Department. Following his retirement from civil service, he worked as a consultant for the Department of Defense for over 15 years, temporarily returning to Government service in 2002-2003 as Deputy Director of the Army's Edgewood Chemical and Biological Center. Frank described his scientific and teaching careers as "labors of love". Throughout his life he worked to instill a love of learning in all those he came in contact with.

After permanently retiring and moving to Lancaster VA, he enjoyed spending time with his family and friends, traveling, boating, fishing, cultivating oysters off his dock, reading and participating in the Lancaster library book club.

Donations in his memory can be made to the Lancaster Public Library, P.O. Box 850, Kilmarnock, VA 22482 or to St. Francis De Sales Church, P.O. Box 759, Kilmarnock, VA 22482. Services were held in Kilmarnock VA January 8, 2016 - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/washingtonpost/obituary.aspx?n=frank-daniel-verderame&pid=177333250&eid=sp_shareobit#sthash.vJF3hV8b.dpuf