Horace R. Sessions ’68 died on June 21, 2025, in Palisade, Colorado.
(The following was family-provided account:)
Horace R. Sessions, Jr, born on November 4, 1946, was found dead at his East Orchard Mesa home on June 21, 2025. He was a native of the eastern US, who became a longtime resident of Colorado, civic leader, and chemist. He was 78 years old.
Though a native son from South Carolina, Horace lived the bulk of his formative years in Baltimore, Maryland. He was the beloved eldest son of very caring parents and the second oldest of their seven children. Horace was a precocious and inquisitive child who excelled in academics and athletics.
Throughout his childhood, Horace regularly applied his early fascination with chemistry to the surprise of his siblings with pink or green pancakes he conjured up in the kitchen when it was his turn to help with breakfast. Hilarious stories still abound between his siblings featuring Horace and his amazing homemade kitchen chemistry lab.
Horace graduated from Baltimore City College High School, a prestigious all-boy high school in Baltimore, MD, as part of a growing group of academically eligible African American boys recently allowed to attend this very prestigious college-preparatory high school. Horace graduated with honors from Baltimore City College in 1964.
His academic accomplishments and his athleticism caught the attention of Bowdoin College recruiters, who eagerly offered him an opportunity to attend their prestigious New England college in Brunswick, Maine. While at Bowdoin, one of only three African American students on campus, Horace excelled in his chemistry courses, becoming the first African American student to earn a bachelor’s degree at Bowdoin as a chemistry major. Also, he became the first African American student to be accepted into the highly-sought-after Beta Theta Pi Fraternity. After Bowdoin, he went on to earn his master’s degree from Bucknell in 1971 and was ready to start his career as a professional chemist.
His career as a chemist started with his move to Colorado, where he lived in several different areas before settling in Grand Junction. While living in Colorado, Horace made numerous friends due to his affable personality and genuine friendliness. His desire to help others lead him to become a member of the local Redlands Rotary Club, where he soon became its president. His professionalism and easy-going manner easily landed him positions of leadership in several chemical companies and organizations. Arapahoe Chemicals and Ricon Resins, Inc were two of those chemical companies that recognized Mr. Sessions unique skills and abilities.
As a professional chemist working for a large chemical conglomerate, Horace successfully developed the chemical process that enabled fast-acting film development that would produce a visible image within minutes or seconds of the photograph’s exposure. This development revolutionized the film industry and gave Polaroid dominance in the film industry during the 1970s. He was also a part of the team that developed the polymer used in the development of the O-rings for the space shuttle.
Horace was never a “little” kid. He was very athletic, tall for his age, and very strong. Rumor has it that he acquired his legendary strength from eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches! And that “legendary strength” helped him to become a renowned wrestler and football player in high school and in college.
He became a weightlifter early in life and he would work out regularly at our neighbor park near Harlem Avenue where we lived. Later in life, he became a competitive powerlifter and traveled as far as Japan to compete and even wrestle, competitively, in Thailand. The respect and reputation for his strength and skill, offered a “Godfather-like” protection for his younger brothers.
His physical attributes were even more pronounced when combined with his mental acuity. His quick wit, sense of humor, and jovialness made him a favorite at parties and other social gatherings. Horace was known for his lavish Cinco de Mayo and Bastille Day parties, and he found joy in embracing many cultures and traditions and making some of them his own. He was blessed with a multitude of natural gifts and talents which he utilized nearly every day. He touched the world through his work, and his play. He will be missed by all who knew him, and especially by his family.
Just about fifty years ago, Horace R. Sessions, Jr., chose to settle in Colorado, in part due to a love interest at the time. First in Golden, outside of Denver, and then Boulder ,having literally searched country-wide, spending time in several states before settling in Colorado. Fifty years later, having lived a full and rewarding life that included inspiring youth at Odessey of the Minds Teams at Grand Valley Middle Schools, Partners (a community organization), the Boys and Girls Clubs, and a long-time president of the Rotary Club, it’s safe to say, he will rest in peace. Cheers!
Horace loved chemistry, traveling, wine making, partying, dining on steaks cooked rare, and helping in the community. He was a lifelong bachelor who had no children of his own. However, he did have one special friend, Patty Nowak, who lived with him for several years.
He was proceeded in death by his parents, Horace R., Sr. and Evelyn Brown Sessions. He is survived by his loving family of four generations—siblings: Lillie M. Gray (William), Richard Sessions, Dr. Abdullah R. Muhammad, Evelyn Sessions, Bevelyn Sessions, and Zelda Scott, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and good friends too numerous to count.