PEABODY - Alfred E. Wechsler, of Peabody, Massachusetts (formerly of Winchester, Massachusetts), passed away peacefully on January 20, 2023. He was 88. Cherished husband of Nancy (Lyons) for 62 years, beloved father of Charles, Elizabeth and Abigail, and doting grandfather to ten grandchildren, he was a brilliant, kind, and thoughtful gentleman, with an astonishing career and a lifetime of service.

Born to Janet and Hyman Wechsler in New City, New York, in 1934, Dr. Wechsler attended Massachusetts Institute of Technology, receiving BS, MS, and ScD degrees in Chemical Engineering in 1955, 1958 and 1961, respectively. As an undergraduate, he was elected to Tau Beta Pi and Kappa Sigma. While in the graduate program, he was awarded an Office of Naval Research fellowship to conduct research on the kinetics of homogeneous reactions. He also served as Assistant Director of the MIT School of Chemical Engineering Practice at field stations in Bangor, Maine, and Buffalo, New York.

After completing his education at MIT, Dr. Wechsler began his career at Arthur D. Little, Inc. He conducted research and development on insulation and construction materials for commercial and aerospace applications, and developed methods and standards for measurement of thermophysical properties and materials. He led several years of research on the thermal and mechanical properties of anticipated lunar surface materials. In a NASA program, he was responsible for conceiving, developing, manufacturing, testing, and implementing several experiments for the lunar program and orbiting spacecraft, and participated in the building of Laser Ranging Lunar Reflector apparatus for an array, which is still in use today, to measure the earth-moon distance accurately over time, and also in the design and implementation of heat flow probes to assess temperature differentials on the moon and thermal conductivity of lunar material.

With the decline of the US space effort, Dr. Wechsler refocused his efforts at Arthur D. Little on energy conservation and biomedical engineering. He led a six-year program for providing diverse biomedical engineering resources and support to the National Cancer Institute to develop diagnostic and therapeutic equipment, and was responsible for developing and improving cell sorters, external and implantable drug delivery systems, and the first 'bubble suit'  that would allow a patient to exit a sterile room and undertake recreational activities with family and friends. Eventually Dr. Wechsler oversaw all of Arthur D. Little's biology/life science product design/development and engineering activities.

Subsequently, Dr. Wechsler was responsible for environmental programs relating to research, development, and innovation in agricultural chemicals and pesticides, including modeling and analysis of toxic materials in the atmosphere, surface water, and soil. He assessed alternative methods for clean-up, collection and transportation of such materials, and was responsible environmental impact assessments for large-scale projects. He led a major program to develop a risk assessment methodology and conduct health risk assessments for suspected environmental carcinogens, and developed and prioritized research and development programs for occupational health and safety. He was one of the founders of the Arthur D. Little Environmental Audit Program, helping to develop audit protocols and procedures for chemical facilities, manufacturing facilities and laboratories.

Dr. Wechsler's technology and management consulting efforts at Arthur D. Little grew to involve providing assistance to international commercial and governmental organizations for the identification, prioritization, and management of research and development opportunities and in the management and growth of technology and innovation. He was also active in science, engineering, and business education, and was responsible for the Arthur D. Little Management Education Institute and its successor, the Arthur D. Little School of Management. He had direct management responsibility for all of Arthur D. Little's technology and management consulting worldwide when he served as Senior Vice President, Chief Professional Officer. Finally, he focused geographically on Asia, where he was responsible for developing consulting practices and offices in Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, India and Australia.

After retiring from Arthur D. Little, Dr. Wechsler continued as a technology and management consultant with several organizations, including TIAX LLC, focusing on technology development and innovation in the fuels, chemicals and materials sectors.

Dr. Wechsler had over 75 publications relating to heat transfer, health, technology, and environmental fields, and was a registered professional engineer in Massachusetts. He was a member of the Visiting Committee of the MIT Chemical Engineering Department, and the Industrial Advisory Committee of the Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Lowell.  He served as Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Arthur D. Little School of Management, and was a member of the Industrial Advisory Board of the Chemical Engineering Dept. at the Texas A&M University. He was a Fellow of American Institute of Chemical Engineers, a member of the American Chemical Society, and a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He participated in the Society of Automotive Engineers and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics He served on a National Academy of Sciences/National Research Council Committee on Chemical Engineering—Research Needs and Opportunities. He also served the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) in multiple capacities, including initiating  a program in which AIChE Fellows mentored young chemical engineering professionals, and received the AIChE van Antwerpen award for 'Service to the Institute''. Dr. Wechsler was also a Trustee of the Environmental Careers Organization; a Director of the Boston-Asian Business Council; a Director of the Medical Center of the Americas in El Paso, TX; and was active in the Boston/Melbourne Australia sister cities program.

Dr. Wechsler's wisdom, quiet humor, and generous spirit will be tremendously missed. A memorial service and celebration of life will be held in the Spring. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the local food back of your choice. Assisting the family with the arrangements is O'Donnell Cremations - Funerals - Celebrations, 167 Maple St., (Rte. 62) DANVERS. To share a memory or offer a condolence, please visit www.odonnellfuneralservice.com