Norman Grant Gaylord (born Norman Gershon Goldstein; February 16, 1923 – September 18, 2007) was an American industrial

chemist A chemist (from Greek ''chēm(ía)'' alchemy; replacing ''chymist'' from Medieval Latin ''alchemist'') is a scientist trained in the study of chemistry. Chemists study the composition of matter and its properties. Chemists carefully describe t ...

and research scientist. He was credited with playing a key role in the development of the gas-permeable rigid

contact lens Contact lenses, or simply contacts, are thin lenses placed directly on the surface of the eyes. Contact lenses are ocular prosthetic devices used by over 150 million people worldwide, and they can be worn to correct vision or for cosmetic ...

which allows

oxygen Oxygen is the chemical element with the symbol O and atomic number 8. It is a member of the chalcogen group in the periodic table, a highly reactive nonmetal, and an oxidizing agent that readily forms oxides with most elements as ...

to reach the wearer's cornea. A native of

Brooklyn Brooklyn () is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Kings County, in the U.S. state of New York. Kings County is the most populous county in the State of New York, and the second-most densely populated county in the United States, beh ...

, he was a graduate of City College and received his

doctorate A doctorate (from Latin ''docere'', "to teach"), doctor's degree (from Latin ''doctor'', "teacher"), or doctoral degree is an academic degree awarded by universities and some other educational institutions, derived from the ancient formalism ''li ...

polymer chemistry Polymer chemistry is a sub-discipline of chemistry that focuses on the structures of chemicals, chemical synthesis, and chemical and physical properties of polymers and macromolecules. The principles and methods used within polymer chemistry are ...

from the

Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn The New York University Tandon School of Engineering (commonly referred to as Tandon) is the engineering and applied sciences school of New York University. Tandon is the second oldest private engineering and technology school in the United Sta ...

, now NYU Tandon school of Engineering. He legally changed his name in the 1940s.''U.S. Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007''; Social Security Administration. For his contribution to the production of lenses Gaylord received in 1985 Founder's Award from the

American Academy of Optometry The American Academy of Optometry (AAO) is an organization of optometrists based in Orlando, Florida. Its goal is to maintain and enhance excellence in optometric practice, by both promoting research and the dissemination of knowledge. The AAO hold ...

. Gaylord died in the

Florida Florida is a U.S. state, state located in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia (U.S. state), Geo ...

city of Boynton Beach at the age of 84.

References

1923 births 2007 deaths Jewish American scientists American chemical engineers 20th-century American chemists People from Brooklyn City College of New York alumni Polytechnic Institute of New York University alumni Engineers from New York City 20th-century American engineers 20th-century American inventors Scientists from New York City 20th-century American Jews 21st-century American Jews {{US-scientist-stub