I just received the sad news that my friend, boss, and mentor, Dr. Irwin “Ike” Klundt died in Tucson, AZ, of cancer. Ike retired in the early 1990’s as VP of Sigma-Aldrich. He was an organic chemist from eastern Washington state. He joined Alfred Bader in the 1960’s (?) and helped build Aldrich into what is is today. He started the Aldrichimica Acta and appeared in it many times in the capacity of awarding a prize to honor prominent chemists. Ike also managed the publication of the catalog and invented the Aldrich “Coffeepot” Kugelrohr.
I first met Ike when I taught for a year at Ft Lewis College in Durango, CO. He was an adjunct prof and I was a visiting prof. Ike was loved by all and was a useful hand to have around for the department.
Ike was a good hearted soul who enjoyed the company of others and actively worked to help younger chemists develop their careers. He loved the science and business of chemistry and the people who worked in this field of ours. Ike was forced out of Aldrich soon after Bader was given the boot as the once entrepreneurial company began to behave like a normal publicly traded company- you know, the ones that eat their young.
The chemical field is poorer for the loss of Ike Klundt. He was one of the human beings of the trade and he will be missed.
Lamentations on Chemistry 
A sad day indeed! I will never forget the help that Ike has given me throughout my career, even as recently as last month. He is one of the reasons I am where I am, and will be sorely missed…
The Baby Boomer interregnum transformed the world beyond imagination. Imagination is now dedicated to revenge. Give it its due. Cut down the tree of knowledge to make toothpicks (outsourced, of course).
The Aldrich motto was “please bother us,” now revised to “the price went up.”
I too and mouring a great friend and scientist. He was not only a advisor to me but a close family friend as well. I am extremely proud to have worked under Ike as his only summer research student at FLC where he guided me in carbohydrate synthesis towards antiviral nucleosides similar to acylovir and ganciclovir. He taught me critical chemistry techniques such as how to perform sucessful air sensitive transfers and he also advised me along with W.R. Bartlett during my Independant Study project of the extraction of Taxanes from a Taxus hicksi shrub. Ike played a huge role in my life and always supported and encouraged me so that i could overcome significant obstacles and pitfalls both in the lab and in life in general. Without Ike’s influence, I can honestly say I would never have become the accomplished medicinal chemist i am today. Thank you so much Ike, I owe you so much and you will never be forgotten.