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Fred Aftalion

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Fred Aftalion
Aftalion in 2014
Born
Alfred Henri Aftalion

(1922-05-02)2 May 1922
Paris, France
Died24 May 2022(2022-05-24) (aged 100)
Paris, France
NationalityFrench
Alma materÉcole nationale supérieure de chimie de Paris
Scientific career
FieldsChemical engineering
InstitutionsSociété Française d’Organo-Synthèse

Alfred Henri Aftalion (2 May 1922 – 24 May 2022), better known as Fred Aftalion, was a French chemical engineer who held leadership positions in the French chemical industry for three decades.[1] He also served as Vice-President of ALEPS, the Association pour la Liberté Economique et le Progrès Social (Association of Liberal Economists).[2] He wrote and commented on economics and politics from a viewpoint of economic liberalism via ALEPS[3] and Radio Courtoisie.[4]

He wrote a number of books dealing with chemistry, industry and society. In 2014, he received the Franklin-Lavoisier Prize for his writings on the history of the international chemical industry.[5]

Education

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Alfred Henri "Fred" Aftalion was born on 2 May 1922 to Jacques Aftalion and Renée (Haime) Aftalion.[6] Aftalion graduated from the École nationale supérieure de chimie de Paris, where he studied chemical engineering.[1] He also studied with Herman Mark, head of the Polymer Institute of the Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn in 1946.[5]

Career

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Aftalion became an engineer with Hercules Inc., working in the United States and Latin America. He returned to France in 1951 and joined the petrochemical company Naphtachimie.[5]

In 1956, he became manager of the Société Française d’Organo-Synthèse (SFOS), a specialty chemicals company which was part of the French pharmaceutical house Laboratoire Roger Bellon. Aftalion directed the company for the next three decades. During this time, the company moved from a 50/50 split between pharmaceutical and industrial chemicals, to a 20/80 split.[1] After Rhône-Poulenc acquired an interest in Roger Bellon in 1964, Aftalion became a board member of Rhône-Poulenc Spécialités Chimiques.[5]

Aftalion served as president of the Société La Vermiculite et la Perlite from 1967 to 1973.[7] He served on the Boards of Directors of Total Chimie and of the Fondation de la Maison de la Chimie in Paris, France.[5][8]

Aftalion became a member of the Mont Pelerin Society in 1971.[9] He was vice-president of ALEPS, the Association pour la Liberté Economique et le Progrès Social (Association of Liberal Economists)[2] He spoke and wrote on economic and political issues[3] from a viewpoint of Economic liberalism via ALEPS[3] and Radio Courtoisie.[4]

His book Histoire de la chimie, translated as A History of the International Chemical Industry, describes the rise of the chemical industry in the international community. It traces connections between science, industry and society. Aftalion received the 2014 Franklin-Lavoisier Prize for his writing on chemistry, industry and society.[5]

Personal life

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Aftalion died on 24 May 2022, at the age of 100.[10] His funeral took place in Paris on 1 June 2022. He was survived by two daughters and grandchildren.[citation needed]

Works

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  • 2012, Pourquoi ne pas le dire? by Fred Aftalion. Paris : Ed. du Trident, c2012.
  • 2007, Histoire de la révolution bourgeoise : de ses origines à nos jours by Fred Aftalion. Paris : Ed. du Trident, 2007.
  • 1995, Protection de l'environnement : pour que de fausses solutions ne deviennent pas de vrais problèmes by Fred Aftalion. Paris : Ed. France-Empire, 1995.
  • 1993, Social-démocratie, dernier avatar du socialisme : histoire d'une utopie, 1945-1993 by Fred Aftalion. Paris : France-Empire, c1993.
  • 1991, History of the international chemical industry by Fred Aftalion ; translated by Otto Theodor Benfey. Philadelphia : University of Pennsylvania Press, c1991; Philadelphia, PA : Chemical Heritage Press, 2001.
  • 1990, Faillite de l'économie administrée : le paradoxe français by Fred Aftalion. Paris : Presses universitaires de France, c1990.
  • 1988, Histoire de la chimie by Fred Aftalion. Paris ; Milan : Masson, 1988.
  • 1967, Libres, égaux, fraternels? by Fred Aftalion. [Paris] Plon, 1967.

Awards

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "Variety Spices Small French Firm's Growth". Chemical & Engineering News. 10 February 1964. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  2. ^ a b Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (12 September 2001). OECD Forum 2001: Sustainable Development and the New Economy Forum Highlights. Paris, France: OECD Publishing. p. 14. ISBN 9789264184824.
  3. ^ a b c "Archives". ALEPS. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  4. ^ a b "Fred Aftalion". Radio Courtoisie. Archived from the original on 23 April 2015. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  5. ^ a b c d e f "2014 Franklin-Lavoisier Prize" (PDF). DIVISION OF THE HISTORY OF CHEMISTRY. American Chemical Society. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
  6. ^ Lafitte, Jacques; Taylor, Stephen (1999). Qui est qui en France. Paris: J. Lafitte. pp. 95–96. ISBN 9782857840374. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  7. ^ Lafitte, Jacques; Taylor, Stephen (1977). Qui est qui en France. Paris: J. Lafitte. p. 85. ISBN 9782857840374. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  8. ^ "Members". Fondation de la Maison de la Chimie. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
  9. ^ "The Mont Pelerin Society (MPS) Background". DESMOG. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
  10. ^ "Avis de décès de Monsieur Fred AFTALION". Simplifia (in French). 28 May 2022. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  11. ^ "Fred Aftalion receives the Franklin-Lavoisier Prize". Chemical Engineering. 121 (5): 6. 1 May 2014. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
  12. ^ "People in the News: Fred Aftalion to Receive the Franklin-Lavoisier Prize". Chemical Processing. 26 March 2014. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
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