Harvey Arthur Mahlman

BORN: August 8, 1923  Died: 2/7/2018

Harvey Arthur Mahlman, age 94, was born August 8, 1923, at La Crosse, Wisconsin. He passed away on February 7, 2018, at Fort Sanders Medical Center, Knoxville. He is preceded in death by his parents, Arthur and Marie Mahlman, La Crosse, WI, and his sisters, Mildred Larrison, Syracuse, NY, and Jeannette Kibler, Albuquerque, , NM. He is survived by his wife of 72-1/2 years, Nancy Taylor Mahlman. He is survived by daughter, Janice Mahlman Moore and husband James (Knoxville); grandsons Thomas (Atlanta, GA) and Nathan (Knoxville). He is also survived by son, John Arthur Mahlman and wife Vickie (Knoxville) and grandson John Arthur Mahlman, Jr. (Melbourne, FL). Mr. Mahlman is also survived by many nieces and nephews scattered across the country. Mr. Mahlman was valedictorian of his high school class in 1941. He continued his education at the University of Wisconsin at La Crosse and the University of Minnesota at Minneapolis where he earned degrees in Chemistry and Business Administration, majoring in Industrial Management. He also earned a Master of Science degree in Chemistry at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. He was one of eight technically trained Army personnel assigned to the Special Engineering Detachment at Oak Ridge, Tennessee, in 1944. Prior to that, he was stationed at Camp Roberts, California. He was enrolled in the Army Specialized Training Program at the University of Illinois at Champagne. During World War II, Mr. Mahlman was assigned to the Manhattan Project in Oak Ridge where he worked to develop plutonium separation from uranium which had undergone neutron fission. Considering the importance of this project, he declined his appointment to the U. S. Military Academy at West Point. At the end of World War II, he received a special commendation from Henry Stimson, Secretary of War, for outstanding work on the atomic bomb. After completing his military service, Mr. Mahlman was employed by Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory in Schenectady, NY, but returned to Oak Ridge National laboratory where he authored numerous scientific publications and received several patents. He accepted a management position with Florida Power and Light in Miami in 1973. He returned to Knoxville to complete his career at Tennessee Valley Authority, retiring in 1988. Mr. Mahlman was invited to be a guest scientist at the Curie Institute in Paris, France, and worked on the radioisotopes of water, 1964-1965. The family enjoyed living in Paris and traveling throughout Europe during this year abroad. He shared his scientific knowledge with his grandsons and other boy scouts of Troop 59, based at First Baptist Concord, by teaching classes for their Environmental Science merit badge. He was proud that all three of his grandsons achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. Mr. Mahlman received a commemorative plaque from the Rotary Club of Oak Ridge during the Secret City's Founder's Day celebration. He was a 60-year member of the American Chemical Society, a member of the New York Academy of Science, and Sigma Xi Fraternity. He was a Special Fellow at the National Institutes of Health, was a traveling lecturer in Radiation Chemistry, sponsored by Oak Ridge Associated University, and was a 60-year member of Masonic Cherokee Lodge #728 F & AM, Knoxville. He was honored with a Wall of Fame plaque and dedication ceremony at his alma mater, Logan High School, La Crosse, Wisconsin, for his achievements in the scientific field. Mr. Mahlman was a loving husband, father, and grandfather who will be greatly missed. He was an animated storyteller and practical jokester. He thoroughly enjoyed a good laugh. He particularly enjoyed the long and close friendships he and Nancy formed while living in the West Hills area and the many trips they shared. The family will receive friends at Click Funeral Home in Farragut, TN, at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, February 11, 2018. The service will be held at 5:30. There will be a private burial at Pleasant Forest Cemetery in Farragut on Monday, February 12, 2018. The family sends their deepest appreciation for the kindness and excellent care Mr. Mahlman received during his illnesses to Dr. Janet Purkey, Dr. Kim Emmett, the nurses of Quality Private Duty, the nurses and staff of University of Tennessee Medical Center, and the nurses and staff of Select Specialty Hospital at Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center. We express our thanks and gratitude to Dr. John Bell and his associates at the University of Tennessee Medical Center for 23 more years with our beloved patriarch. In lieu of flowers, kindly make a donation in Mr. Mahlman's memory to University of Tennessee Cancer Institute, 1924 Alcoa Highway, Knoxville, TN 37920, the Department of Chemistry, University of Tennessee, 552 Buehler Hall 1420 Circle Dr., Knoxville, TN 37996, or to Cherokee Lodge #728, 102 Northshore Drive, Knoxville, TN 37919.

Published in Knoxville News Sentinel from Feb. 10 to Feb. 11, 2018
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