Born in Iowa City, Iowa, Oren attended public schools in Sioux City, Iowa where he established himself as an accomplished scientist and mathematician. His lifelong love of music as a pianist, trombonist, saxophonist and guitarist began and flourished during these foundational years.
Graduating from Carleton magna cum laude, Oren entered doctoral studies at Northwestern, graduating in 1968 with his Ph.D. in inorganic chemistry. He became a post-doctoral researcher in the University of Bergen, Norway for two years, followed by more research at the University of Leicester in England. In 1972, he joined the faculty of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
In 1974, he and his family made their final move to Ft. Collins, Colorado, where Oren accepted a tenure track faculty position in the Department of Chemistry at Colorado State University. His career at CSU was 37 years. Oren loved his research, but he loved teaching even more. He published, he taught, and he mentored, becoming what his former students called “the first and greatest old master.” He was a devoted family man of four and a giant in his profession.
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I have fond memories of my freshman year proctor in Musser Hall, a responsibility Oren shared with Craig Dean.