Funeral Details

Harold Rafson, 89. Beloved husband of the late Dorothy Robinson Rafson. Brilliant, inspiring, always interesting father of Roger (Sally Garfield) Rafson, Robert Rafson, Joseph (Cynthia Plouche) Rafson and Adele (Neil Kaplan) Rafson Kaplan. Cherished grandfather of Sarah Rafson (Jedd Hakimi), Benjamin and Lillian Rafson, Jessica, Marley and Claire Rafson and Max, Jeffrey, Julie and Harry Kaplan.Trained as a chemical engineer, Harold found a lifelong joy in flavors, food and wine. He was a gourmet cook and had an interesting professional life. Harold started out as a food and flavor specialist. His children and grand children are most impressed in the role he played as a developer of Pop Rocks candy. His later career led him to invent chemical systems to clean airborne odors and pollution. Harold holds 25 patents and was a respected environmentalist in the engineering field. He was active in environmental advocacy groups locally and globally. In his later years, Harold focused on writing. A published author, he wrote textbooks and children's books. Environmental concerns were the focus of Harold's life and energy until the day of his passing.Harold will be missed but not forgotten. Memorial Service: Monday, Feb. 13 at 3:00pm at Congregation Solel, 1301 Clavey Road, Highland Park. Interment private. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the Union of Concerned Scientists: Science for a Healthy Planet and Safer World at www.ucsusa.org/memorial Arrangements by Chicago Jewish Funerals - Skokie Chapel, 847.229.8822, www.cjfinfo.com