Derek Alwyn Law

Derek Alwyn Law, 86, of Yardley Pennsylvania, father, chemist, manager, and lifelong world traveler, died Saturday April 15th 2023, at St. Mary’s Hospital.

Born in Huddersfield England, Derek received B.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Organic Chemistry from the University of Liverpool England, and the University of Alberta Canada, respectively.

In 1963, Derek immigrated to the United States and joined the applied products research group of Mobil Oil in Paulsboro, NJ.

Throughout his career at Mobil, Derek earned 38 patents and was responsible for the development of antioxidant technology now used in Mobil Jet Oil. Later in his career, he accepted multiple overseas assignments and in 1983, was appointed group leader and manager of the Industrial Oils group which subsequently became the Additives, Minerals, and Chemical Products group in Princeton, NJ. As leader of this group, Derek’s extensive contacts and excellent technical reputation in Japan were key factors in Mobil Chemical’s success in the Japanese market.

After working at Mobil Oil for 31 years, Derek retired to his home in Yardley Pennsylvania, spending his time sculpting his garden, enjoying English Premier League matches, and planning his trips to destinations around the world.

From the time he was a teenager, riding his bike roundtrip from England to Spain, Derek had a passion for travel and making friends in the 106 countries he visited in his lifetime. His passion ranged from careful planning of global multi week trips, to adventures which embraced jumping on buses for which the destination was “unknown”. Travelling “off of the beaten path” was a habit Derek always tried to instill on his family and friends.

His family always noted that Derek had the ability to walk into a room full of strangers and start up a conversation on any number of topics, initiating friendships which lasted a lifetime. Throughout his life, Derek was most happy keeping in contact with the many people he met on his travels and setting up new adventures.

Of all the places Derek visited over the years, Japan was his most favourite destination, a country he visited over 30 times both professionally and personally. From these travels, Derek built many lifelong friendships.

In addition to his wife and three sons, Derek is survived by his 5 grandchildren.

Donations in his name may be made to Doctors without Borders (www.doctorswithoutborders.org)