Alexander “Alex” Vavoulis, professor emeritus of chemistry from 1956 to 1992, passed away on June 2 from congestive heart failure. He was 95.

He was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and lived in Fresno for more than 50 years. He received a bachelor's and master's degree in chemistry at Brooklyn College, and earned a teaching doctorate in chemistry at the University of the Pacific. He had publications in chemistry, algebra, teaching and higher education, and was the author of “Chemical Calculations: With a Focus on Algebraic Principles.”

He was active in the Fresno Free College Foundation, and advocated for academic freedom, faculty and student rights. In 1975, he helped to found KFCF, a listener-sponsored radio station (88.1 FM).

Dr. Vavoulis is survived by his wife, Vasiliky; and sons, Theodore and David.