Chemistry experiment lands him a wife for life
The American Chemical Society recognized Bob Botto in 2015 with its Helen M. Free Award for Public Outreach.
“My dad was a chemist, and I was always fascinated with that sort of thing. I did all kinds of experiments as a kid. I invented things.
“When I was a junior in college I came up with light solution. All you did was add water and it made light. That was pretty special.
“You know something about light solution? It’s highly romantic, and I used that to get my very first girlfriend in 1969.
“Two churches in Buffalo, New York, booked a trip together to Syracuse, and I didn’t know any of the kids on the bus. I had my light solution and I had my science book. When we got off the bus for lunch, somebody took my book. That somebody was Kathy. When I got back on the bus she said, ‘Hi, I’m Kathy. Do you want your book back?’ I said, “No, you can read it.’
“Then later on I invited her to sit with me. After a little conversation, I got up enough courage to pop the question: ‘How would you like to see my light solution?’ She said she would, and I said, ‘You know, you have to see it in complete darkness.’
“So I took her up to my room in the hotel, turned off all the lights, and sat her on the bed. I took out a little beaker from my suitcase, poured a little bit of the light solution in there, added water, and it made a wonderful green-colored light. It was my most successful experiment ever. I’ve been married to Kathy now for 41 years.”
— Bob Botto
A chemist at ExxonMobil for 34 years, Bob transformed into Mr. Wizard to put on chemistry shows for students of all ages.
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