In memoriam.

R. V. V. Nicholls, HFCIC, was born February 18, 1913, in Montreal, QC, and passed away March 9, 2007. As the CIC's first director of scientific affairs, he was instrumental in establishing the Subject Divisions, scientific conferences, creating a system of awards and distinctions, and arranging the visits by scientists to Local Section gatherings. He was made an Honorary Fellow of the CIC in 1994.

Nicholl's distinguished and enthusiastic service to the CIC began in 1943 when he became a member of the Joint Committee on Chemical Regorganization and of the Central Executive Committee. A year later, he was among the first to be awarded Fellowship to the CIC. He was a member of the first CIC Board of Directors. He served as the first chair of the Montreal Section in 1945. Each of these "firsts" was not only a significant contribution to the birth of the CIC, but also integral to establishing a sense of unity and purpose to the profession of chemistry and to education in the chemical sciences. He continued to serve the CIC with great distinction. He co-authored A History of Chemistry in Canada with C. J. S. Warringon and edited Chemical Canada 1970-1995.

As a professor of chemistry at McGill University from 1936 to 1973, Nicholls was one of the most effective and popular lecturers in organic chemistry at all levels. He quietly influenced a number of students toward a career in chemistry or chemical engineering. In unassuming ways, he helped struggling students at key junctures by listening to their concerns, giving them the benefit of his counsel, and by finding sources of financial support to enable them to continue their studies. In addition to being an outstanding teacher, Nicholls was also a very effective administrator, holding key positions in the department of chemistry and the faculty of arts and science and graduate studies at McGill.

In addition to chemistry, Nicholls had a lifelong interest in railroads. In 1932, at the age of 19, he was one of a dozen co-founders of the Canadian Railroad Historical Association and in 1961 he was instrumental in establishing the Canadian Railway Museum. Nicholls was honoured frequently and his awards included two Confederation Medals from the Government of Canada, the Jubilee Medal in 1977, and most notably the Order of Canada in 1983.