Dr. Mark Salomon, a prominent American physical chemist and electrochemist of Little Silver, NJ, passed away peacefully on June 11, 2026, at the age of 91. Dr. Salomon is widely recognized for his decades of pioneering research on battery technologies. He is particularly celebrated for his extensive work on lithium-based battery electrolytes as well as his leadership within the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC).
Born and raised in Brooklyn & Queens, NY to Rose (nee Weingeroff) and Mike Salomon (Dutch emigre), he knew he was interested in science at a very young age. There is even a legendary childhood event where he caused an explosion in his parent’s apartment bathroom while experimenting (but we have no proof). After graduating Hunter College Mark went on to join the marine corps reserves in 1958 but was released in 1963 after moving to Canada to get his PhD in Electrochemistry from the University of Ottawa. He then worked for NASA in the Boston office and when that office was closed in 1972 he moved to NJ to work for the U.S. Army Research Laboratory Power Sources Division at Fort Monmouth, where he spent the rest of his career focusing on improving energy technologies for military and commercial applications.
He was a prolific author and editor of dozens of significant scientific publications and patents in the fields of electrochemistry, thermodynamics, and transport properties of gelled electrolytes.
Mark met his wife Carol (nee Linden) while working summers at a hotel in Catskills NY as both the head waiter and dance instructor, similar to the plot of one of his favorite movies, Dirty Dancing. They married in 1959 and moved several times before settling into Fair Haven NJ in 1972. Together they enjoyed summers at the beach with their many friends, entertaining with friends and family, and traveling internationally while Mark attended IUPAC meetings or was a guest lecturer at international universities. Mark & Carol produced three daughters, Debra Salomon (Phil) of Milton, DE, Karen Benjamin (Pete) of Cary, NC, and Tracy Goldenberg (Rob) of Short Hills, NJ. His daughters fondly remember their father for his sarcastic sense of humor, math and science assistance (though his ability to make school problems more complicated was often a deterrent to them asking for his help), pillow fights, and many trips to local shops for pork roll egg & cheese sandwiches, hotdogs, and chocolate bars (oh and we can’t forget the beer & cigarettes).
Mark also left behind his sister and brother-in-law Linda & Gil Beatus, his brother and sister-in-law Richard & Anita Salomon, and his sister-in-law Judy Schultz; his nieces Cynthia & Elisa and his nephew Kevin, his 6 grandchildren, Kyle (Jenn), Lauren, Allison (Demi), Hannah, Luke & Olivia, as well as his two great grandbabies Bellamy & Cecilia. He was predeceased by his parents and his niece Paula.
Dr. Salomon was a well-respected scientist, and beloved husband, father, uncle and grandfather, and he will be missed by all. May his memory be but a blessing.
