Kenneth B. Wiberg

Kenneth B. Wiberg of Hamden, CT and Needam, MA passed away peacefully on May 10, 2026 at the age of 98.

Ken grew up in Brooklyn, NY, where he learned the value of hard work at his father’s Norwegian deli. He discovered his lifelong passion for Chemistry while a student at Brooklyn Tech (1945) and followed it doggedly—he earned his BS from MIT (1948) and PhD from Columbia (1950) within 5 years. After teaching at the University of Washington and Harvard, he settled in at Yale University where he was a Professor for 35 years and an Emeritus Professor for another 28 years.

He left a remarkable legacy in his field of Physical Organic Chemistry through his work with his many students and his prolific research—he published 483 peer reviewed papers, most recently at age 95.  He was elected to the National Academy of Sciences and was a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.  He won the Arthur C. Cope Award for his achievements in the field of organic chemistry, the American Chemical Society Award in Physical-Organic Chemistry, and the Pauling Award.

Ken was predeceased by his beloved wife of 68 years, Marge (née Koch). He is survived by his children Patricia and her husband Bob Bjoring of Charlottesville, VA; Robert and his wife Laura of Arlington, VA; and Bill and his wife Lynda Sperry of Wellesley, MA; and his grandchildren Margot Bjoring, Holly Wiberg, Wendy Wiberg, Kate Wiberg Latterell, and Elle Wiberg. He was a wonderful husband, devoted father, and adored grandfather. He instilled the values of curiosity, generosity, and confidence in his family and students with his advice and by how he led his life.  He often commented, right up until his last days, that he was incredibly lucky. That sense of optimism and humility was an inspiration to all who knew him.

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