Clelia Wood “Sally” Mallory, a former lecturer in the department of chemistry in the School of Arts and Sciences and the director emerita of Penn’s Organic Chemistry Laboratory, passed away on July 28. She was 84. 

Born and raised in Brooklyn, Dr. Mallory was educated at St. Mary’s School in Peekskill, New York before attending Bryn Mawr College, where she earned a BA in chemistry in 1959. Four years later, she received a PhD in organic chemistry, also from Bryn Mawr. Dr. Mallory began her career working as a research associate in chemistry at Bryn Mawr, then served as a lecturer at Yale University. 

In 1980, she joined Penn’s faculty as a lecturer in chemistry and advanced to senior lecturer four years later. There, she was responsible for the undergraduate laboratory program in organic chemistry, teaching the lab courses that were required for pre-health professions. In 1989, she won a Provost’s Award for teaching in a non-tenure track position. “Students welcome her lectures as well organized and delivered—and her guidance in the lab, where she is known as caring, diligent, able to instill a sense of control by the student, and willing to spend time to discuss the work, to work with students on experiments and ‘often to calm down nervous and jittery pre-meds’” (Almanac April 4, 1989). Eighteen years later, she won the School of Arts and Sciences’ Dean’s Award for Distinguished Teaching by Affiliated Faculty; a colleague remarked that “she constantly generates great student enthusiasm … and yet she does it by getting her students to work really hard” (Almanac April 24, 2007). With her husband Frank Mallory, a professor of chemistry at Bryn Mawr College, she co-authored several dozen peer-reviewed articles. She retired from Penn in 2018. 

Dr. Mallory was predeceased by her husband in 2017. She is survived by her stepchildren, Mary Mallory Wrenn (Robert), Paul Mallory (Kelly), and Michele Mallory Penner (Terry); seven grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. A memorial is planned for a later date.