Herbert Gordon Krane

Herbert Gordon Krane passed away early in the morning of July 27, 2014 after a long illness, at the age of 90.

Herb had a long career as a chemical engineer, from his early days doing research at Standard Oil of Indiana (with six patents to his credit) to his work with Amoco in international business ventures, first in Europe and Eastern Europe in the 1960s and then in Asia for the remainder of his career. From 1980-1986, he was president of China American Petrochemical Company, Inc. [CAPCO], a joint venture between Amoco and Chinese Petroleum Corporation of Taiwan that manufactures raw materials for polyester fiber and chips.

Born on October 16, 1923 in Worcester, Massachusetts to Esther (Benjamin) and Max Kravitz, he lived in Northwest Indiana and Taipei while working for Amoco and in the East Bay since his retirement in 1986. A sister, Harriet Kravitz Falk, is deceased. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps from 1943-1946. A co-pilot and first lieutenant with the 323rd bomb group of the 9th Air Force, he survived a plane crash in flight training and went on to fly 28 missions in the European theater, earning an Air Medal and three battle stars.

Herb received his B.Ch.E from Ohio State University, Columbus; his MS from Columbia University, New York; and his Ph.D from Ohio State University. His dissertation was on “The Study of Rate Factors in Liquid Phase Hydrogenation.”

He was an enthusiastic runner, skier, and hiker and a tenacious golfer with one glorious hole-in-one to his credit. He was also an avid, although usually unsuccessful, fisherman.

He is survived by his wife of sixty-six years, Reta Narotsky Krane of Emeryville, California; his daughter Susan Krane of San Jose, California; his son Spencer Krane of Chicago, Illinois; and nieces and nephews Adam, Abigail, David, Penelope, and Michael Falk (and their children). Herb had a beloved extended family, including sister-in-law Carolyn Narotsky; Janny Chen and May Chen Clark (and her children); Laura Kutka Hannon and Robin Kutka Gintert and their children; Katy Chin; and Lauren Albright Malmo.

Always one to enjoy a fine meal and engaging conversation, Herb was cherished as a lifelong friend, fellow adventurer, and inveterate world traveler by a network of people of several generations, across the globe.