In Memoriam: Former Chair of TAPPI’s Paper and Board Division, Darren Keith Swales, Ph.D. (1966 – 2022)
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Darren, age 56, died Tuesday, August 16, 2022 surrounded by his loved ones after a short but fierce battle with cancer. He was born on June 17, 1966, in Clitheroe, England to Keith and Pamela Swales.
For his entire professional life Darren worked in the field of paper chemicals. Most recently he was the Director of Sales with Plasmine Technology, Inc headquartered in Pensacola, FL. He was a graduate of Loughborough University with a Ph.D. in Colloidal Chemistry (1991); Loughborough University B.Sc.Hons. in Analytical Chemistry (1988).
Darren held a Licentiate from the Royal Society of Chemistry and was inducted as a TAPPI Fellow in 2016. Additionally, he has held the roles of Secretary, Vice-Chair, and Chair of both the Papermaking Additives Committee and the Paper and Board Division of TAPPI as well as the Chair of the Technical Program Committee for two TAPPICon conferences. Darren was a published author whose body of work includes many patents, journal articles, and book chapters as well as an active role as an instructor for many technical courses offered by TAPPI including the Introduction to Wet End Chemistry course offered annually at the TAPPI headquarters.
When he wasn’t working and learning, Darren loved hunting, fishing, and the outdoors. He spent many hours sitting in a tree or out on the lake. He was dedicated to his family, friends, and work. Always the life and soul of the party, he and Erika loved to entertain.
He is survived by his wife Erika, of 25 years, and children, Ella, Hana, and LJ. He was preceded in death by his father.
