​James Russell Hyde, 78

James Russell Hyde, former President of Grace Davison and Senior Vice President of W.R. Grace & Co. passed away on Wednesday, May 17, 2017 at the age of 78.

The oldest of two children to Faith Allison and Ward Hyde, Mr. Hyde was born and raised in Marietta, Ohio. Upon graduation from the University of Cincinnati in 1962 with a B.S degree in chemical engineering, he started his career with W.R. Grace serving in various managerial capacities in the Davison specialty chemicals division. In 1981 he and his family relocated to Baltimore, MD. In 1982 he was named Vice President of manufacturing and, four years later, Executive Vice President of Davison in charge of the petroleum chemicals unit. He was elected a Grace Vice President and named President of Davison in 1987. In 1995 he was elected Senior Vice President of Grace.

Mr. Hyde was a member of various professional trade and service organizations and was a director of the Kennedy Krieger Institute, Chairman of the Board of MedStar Health, and served on the Board of Governors for the National Aquarium in Baltimore.

Mr. Hyde was a dedicated member of the Towson Presbyterian Church where he served as an Elder. Mr. Hyde was an active member of the Towson Rotary Club, served on the Board of Trustees of Harbor Hospital and above all else was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and brother.

Mr. Hyde was predeceased by Carol Jean Quittschreiber in December 2011 after celebrating 50 years of marriage. He is survived by a son, William Russell Hyde, his wife Melissa and their children Sydney and Zachary, a daughter, Alison Anne Bolyard, her husband Scott (deceased) and their children Molly and Bradley, and a daughter Amy Sharon Rosenthal, her husband Richard and their children Alexis, William, and Caroline. Also survived by a brother John William Hyde and his wife Linda of Paso Robles, California.

A memorial service will be celebrated at the Towson Presbyterian Church 400 West Chesapeake Avenue Towson, MD 21204 on Saturday, June 3, at 11 a.m.

Interment private.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his memory to Towson Presbyterian Church Memorial Fund at the address above or The American Heart Association.

—Information from Ruck Funeral Home.