Fred Aftalion

Alfred Henri Aftalion (2 May 1922 – 24 May 2022), better known as Fred Aftalion, was a French chemical engineer who held leadership positions in the French chemical industry for three decades.[1] He also served as Vice-President of ALEPS, the Association pour la Liberté Economique et le Progrès Social (Association of Liberal Economists).[2] He wrote and commented on economics and politics from a viewpoint of economic liberalism via ALEPS[3] and Radio Courtoisie.[4]

Fred Aftalion
Aftalion in 2014
Born
Alfred Henri Aftalion

(1922-05-02)2 May 1922
Paris, France
Died24 May 2022(2022-05-24) (aged 100)
Paris, France
NationalityFrench
Alma materÉcole nationale supérieure de chimie de Paris
Scientific career
FieldsChemical engineering
InstitutionsSociété Française d’Organo-Synthèse

He wrote a number of books dealing with chemistry, industry and society. In 2014, he received the Franklin-Lavoisier Prize for his writings on the history of the international chemical industry.[5]

Education

Alfred Henri "Fred" Aftalion was born on 2 May 1922 to Jacques Aftalion and Renée (Haime) Aftalion.[6] Aftalion graduated from the École nationale supérieure de chimie de Paris, where he studied chemical engineering.[1] He also studied with Herman Mark, head of the Polymer Institute of the Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn in 1946.[5]

Career

Aftalion became an engineer with Hercules Inc., working in the United States and Latin America. He returned to France in 1951 and joined the petrochemical company Naphtachimie.[5]

In 1956, he became manager of the Société Française d’Organo-Synthèse (SFOS), a specialty chemicals company which was part of the French pharmaceutical house Laboratoire Roger Bellon. Aftalion directed the company for the next three decades. During this time, the company moved from a 50/50 split between pharmaceutical and industrial chemicals, to a 20/80 split.[1] After Rhône-Poulenc acquired an interest in Roger Bellon in 1964, Aftalion became a board member of Rhône-Poulenc Spécialités Chimiques.[5]

Aftalion served as president of the Société La Vermiculite et la Perlite from 1967 to 1973.[7] He served on the Boards of Directors of Total Chimie and of the Fondation de la Maison de la Chimie in Paris, France.[5][8]

Aftalion became a member of the Mont Pelerin Society in 1971.[9] He was vice-president of ALEPS, the Association pour la Liberté Economique et le Progrès Social (Association of Liberal Economists)[2] He spoke and wrote on economic and political issues[3] from a viewpoint of Economic liberalism via ALEPS[3] and Radio Courtoisie.[4]

His book Histoire de la chimie, translated as A History of the International Chemical Industry, describes the rise of the chemical industry in the international community. It traces connections between science, industry and society. Aftalion received the 2014 Franklin-Lavoisier Prize for his writing on chemistry, industry and society.[5]

Personal life

Aftalion died on 24 May 2022, at the age of 100.[10] His funeral took place in Paris on 1 June 2022. He was survived by two daughters and grandchildren.

Works
  • 2012, Pourquoi ne pas le dire? by Fred Aftalion. Paris : Ed. du Trident, c2012.
  • 2007, Histoire de la révolution bourgeoise : de ses origines à nos jours by Fred Aftalion. Paris : Ed. du Trident, 2007.
  • 1995, Protection de l'environnement : pour que de fausses solutions ne deviennent pas de vrais problèmes by Fred Aftalion. Paris : Ed. France-Empire, 1995.
  • 1993, Social-démocratie, dernier avatar du socialisme : histoire d'une utopie, 1945-1993 by Fred Aftalion. Paris : France-Empire, c1993.
  • 1991, History of the international chemical industry by Fred Aftalion ; translated by Otto Theodor Benfey. Philadelphia : University of Pennsylvania Press, c1991; Philadelphia, PA : Chemical Heritage Press, 2001.
  • 1990, Faillite de l'économie administrée : le paradoxe français by Fred Aftalion. Paris : Presses universitaires de France, c1990.
  • 1988, Histoire de la chimie by Fred Aftalion. Paris ; Milan : Masson, 1988.
  • 1967, Libres, égaux, fraternels? by Fred Aftalion. [Paris] Plon, 1967.

Awards

References
  1. "Variety Spices Small French Firm's Growth". Chemical & Engineering News. 10 February 1964. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  2. Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (12 September 2001). OECD Forum 2001: Sustainable Development and the New Economy Forum Highlights. Paris, France: OECD Publishing. p. 14. ISBN 9789264184824.
  3. "Archives". ALEPS. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  4. "Fred Aftalion". Radio Courtoisie. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  5. "2014 Franklin-Lavoisier Prize" (PDF). DIVISION OF THE HISTORY OF CHEMISTRY. American Chemical Society. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
  6. Lafitte, Jacques; Taylor, Stephen (1999). Qui est qui en France. Paris: J. Lafitte. pp. 95–96. ISBN 9782857840374. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  7. Lafitte, Jacques; Taylor, Stephen (1977). Qui est qui en France. Paris: J. Lafitte. p. 85. ISBN 9782857840374. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  8. "Members". Fondation de la Maison de la Chimie. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
  9. "The Mont Pelerin Society (MPS) Background". DESMOG. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
  10. "Avis de décès de Monsieur Fred AFTALION". Simplifia (in French). 28 May 2022. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  11. "Fred Aftalion receives the Franklin-Lavoisier Prize". Chemical Engineering. 121 (5): 6. 1 May 2014. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
  12. "People in the News: Fred Aftalion to Receive the Franklin-Lavoisier Prize". Chemical Processing. 26 March 2014. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
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