KU News Release

KU chancellor issues statement on death of professor J. Howard Rytting

J. Howard Rytting

LAWRENCE — The University of Kansas is mourning the death Wednesday of J. Howard Rytting, professor of pharmaceutical chemistry and a researcher who developed compounds that help drugs penetrate skin. Rytting (pronounced Ritt-ing) joined the university in 1969, just two years after the pharmaceutical chemistry department was founded.

Chancellor Robert Hemenway issued the following statement:

“Professor Rytting was a pioneer, not only in his field but here at the university as one of the founding members of a new pharmaceutical chemistry department that today is respected worldwide for its excellence. His career and contributions were extraordinary and his loss is felt deeply. On behalf of the entire university, I extend my condolences to Professor Rytting’s family, friends and colleagues.”

Rytting’s work focused on improving the usefulness of drugs. He investigated how heat and energy change the way drugs dissolve in liquids, how pressure and temperature affect the physical chemistry of drugs and how drugs are absorbed through the skin. He made breakthroughs in drugs to treat male impotence, as well as significant improvements facilitating intra-oral, rectal, intestinal and transdermal drug delivery. Rytting earned his bachelor’s and doctoral degrees at Brigham Young University before joining the KU faculty.

“Amongst his colleagues, he was not only respected for his teaching and research as well as his service to the department, but he and his wife, Kay, were role models of how to balance work with family commitments,” said Valentino Stella, a University Distinguished Professor of Pharmaceutical Chemistry. “We occasionally referred to Howard as the ‘conscience of the department.’ He will be greatly missed not only as a colleague but one of the genuinely good people.”

“He was a true gentlemen in every sense of the world,” said School of Pharmacy Dean Ken Audus. “He was a wonderful colleague. We will miss him.”

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