In memoriam: James P. 'Jim' Wightman, professor emeritus of chemistry

James P. (Jim) Wightman, professor emeritus of chemistry at Virginia Tech, passed away on Nov. 20, 2023. He survived by his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Wightman earned his B.S. from Randolph-Macon College, where he was awarded the Distinguished Alumni Award in 1991. He completed his Ph.D. at Lehigh University and went onto a postdoctoral appointment at Penn State.

His research focused on surface chemistry and adhesion science. He was one of the first scientists to study the impact of space on materials through vacuum chamber studies.

He served as an associate editor of the Journal of Adhesion and was a former president of the Adhesion Society. Wightman was named an Alumni Distinguished Professor by the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors in 1987. Wightman established the Wightman Lecture, a part of the Highlands in Chemistry Seminar Series, in 2012.

Among his numerous accolades are the 1995 Virginia Tech University Sporn Teaching Award for excellence in teaching introductory subjects and the 1972 William E. Wine Award for Faculty Achievement. He also received the 2001 SCHEV Outstanding Faculty Award and the Clifford Department of Chemistry Award for service.

“Jim was the trifecta of academics–an exemplary teacher, a world-class researcher, and a dedicated departmental serviceman,” said Amanda Morris, chair of the Department of Chemistry. “Jim always seemed happy to see you. His smile was contagious.”

Wightman embodied the Virginia Tech motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve). His passion for service and education were hallmarks of his tenure at Virginia Tech, his church community, and in the countless relationships he forged along the way.