Dr. Arthur R. Lyding, beloved father, brother and grandfather and a resident of Princeton for 49 years, recently passed away at the Merwick Rehabilitation Center following a short illness at the age of 93.

Born in Brooklyn, New York, Dr. Lyding lived with his family about a block away from Ebbetts Field, home of the Brooklyn Dodgers, and Arthur was a steady attendee of Dodgers' games. In fact, his Mother often was able to obtain choice seating at the games by enticing the ushers with her famous homemade salami sandwiches. After graduating from Boys High School, Dr. Lyding attended Cornell University where he obtained a bachelor of arts degree in chemistry in 1945. Upon his graduation from Cornell, Dr. Lyding served in the United States Navy during World War II as an expert in sonar and radar technologies. After the War ended, Dr. Lyding pursued graduate studies at the University of Pennsylvania from where he obtained a Master of Science in organic chemistry in 1948 and a Ph.D in organic chemistry in 1951. He began working as a senior research chemist for Olin Matheson in New Haven, Connecticut. During this period, he was also an associate professor of organic chemistry at Southern Connecticut State College and the University of New Haven.

He met the love of his life, Harriet, on a blind date in 1956 and married in 1957. Following the birth of their son, Christopher, in 1960, Arthur continued to work at Olin Matheson until 1969. That year he transferred to FMC Corporation, the sight of the current Medical Center of Princeton, and moved his family to Princeton.  From 1975 to 1987, Dr. Lyding was a supervisor at NL Industries, in Hightstown, New Jersey where he supervised the development of new organic and polymeric additives for the plastics, textile and paint industries. By the time he retired, Dr. Lyding had received 12 patents in organic and polymer chemistry.

Dr. Lyding was an ardent fan of the Gilbert and Sullivan operettas and would try to attend as many performances as possible. He was completely mesmerized by the combination of the exquisite lyrics of Sir W.S. Gilbert put to music by Sir Arthur Sullivan. He often lamented how today's youth had no appreciation for such culture, but instead seemed to be only interested in the indecent and vulgar lyrics of modern music.

Dr. Lyding was also an avid philatelist and model train enthusiast. During the summers, he was a constant fixture at the Community Park Pool.

Of course, Dr. Lyding was also well-known for being a diehard Chicago Cubs fan. When he was growing up in the 1930s and 1940s, the Cubs were indeed a power house in the National League. Despite their long drought from winning a pennant that began in 1945, Dr. Lyding steadfastly rooted for the Cubs through all the lean years until his patience and loyalty were finally rewarded with a World Series Championship in 2016. He was even cremated wearing his favorite Chicago Cubs jacket.

But perhaps Dr. Lyding saved his greatest passion for the hundreds of middle and high school students he aided over the years in such courses as Algebra, Geometry, Calculus, Chemistry, Physics, Latin, German and SAT/AP prep. He fully enjoyed interacting with these students because doing so kept his mind active and in touch with the young generation. He also made many lifelong friends with the students' parents. Indeed, his success with these students can be measured by the extraordinary amount of complimentary letters he received from the students and their parents.

Dr. Lyding was predeceased by his parents Charles and Irene Lyding and by his wife of 46 years, Harriet, in 2003. Dr. Lyding is survived by his son, Christopher S. Lyding, Esq. of Plainsboro, a grandson, Charles T. Lyding, and his brother, Peter W. Lyding of Riverdale, N.Y.

A memorial service was private. The family will hold a public celebration of life ceremony in the spring.