Arun Wagh, PhD (1/19/1941 – 2/2/2023)
Dr. Arun Wagh, PhD (82) passed away peacefully on February 2 nd , 2023 with his family by his
side. Arun was born in Kondli, India to Shripad and Uma. Arun's father passed away when he
was six, and he traveled to Karwar to be cared for by his uncle, since educational services were
not available in his village. After graduating from high school, he got admission to Wilson
College in Bombay and graduated with his Bachelors degree, majoring in Physics.
Arun then went to Temple University for his Masters degree and then to State University of
New York (Buffalo) for his PhD in Physics. On an eventful trip to India, he met Sulbha Chittal and
they were soon wed. She returned with him to Buffalo where Arun completed his PhD degree.
Upon receiving his PhD, he returned to India, where he was a reader at Bombay University in
Panjim, Goa. He and Sulbha were blessed with a daughter (Arati) and a son (Poojan). From
there, the family moved to Kingston, Jamaica, where Arun obtained a post as a lecturer in the
physics department.
In Jamaica, he researched many topics, the most fortuitous being containment and treatment
of red mud waste, a byproduct of aluminum refining. He developed a process to solidify the
waste (which was caustic and radioactive) into a safe material. He leveraged this experience to
obtain a part-time post at Argonne National Lab, eventually obtaining a full-time position as a
scientist.
Arun worked at Argonne for 20 years, generalizing his work to create an entirely new class of
ceramic-based materials. He published one technical book on these novel development
processes, and Argonne branded one of these materials as an alternative building material
called Ceramicrete, a cement that solidifies at room temperature.
He then successfully left Argonne to be the technology lead of a start-up and subsequently to
coach other startups (as a consultant) on further commercialization of novel materials.
His greatest joy was his family. He has five grandchildren whom he loved dearly and genuinely
enjoyed. He loved every little bit of each of their varied interests and personalities. They in turn
adored him. The whole family called him Baba (a term that means father). He was fond of his
in-laws and many nephews and nieces, and they in turn adored him.
In his free time, he enjoyed painting and writing. He produced many paintings and created one
historical book on lesser-known scientists whose work precluded the greatest discoveries. He
was also working on his first fiction book. He loved music, especially Indian classical music. He
enjoyed seeing his granddaughters dance Kathak, Bharatanatyam, or Bollywood. He also loved
gardening, especially orchids (which he saw colleagues nurture in Jamaica).

Above all, his gentle and unfailingly positive nature was the greatest blessing to his family. His
enduring love will be felt for the rest of their lives.

Visitation Monday from 10:00am -11:00am at McCauley-Sullivan Funeral Home 530 W. Boughton Rd. Bolingbrook, IL. 60440.
Cremation Rites to follow.