Henry Rakoff

Henry Rakoff, 100, passed away on May 2, 2025, surrounded by the love of his family and friends. He saw many changes in the world in his long life.

He was born in Brooklyn in 1924 to Joseph and Anna. His mother died when he was 10 and his sisters raised him, helping him value education and poetry.  He attended schools in Brooklyn and graduated from CCNY with a BS in chemistry in 1944.  Shortly after, he entered the US Navy where he served as an electronics technician. After his naval service, he enrolled at Purdue University receiving the MS and PhD degrees in chemistry.

Henry married Mary Miller and they had two sons, Alan (Maria) and Steven; and one daughter, Tracy (Jim) Madril.  During this time Henry was a Professor of Chemistry at Texas A & M University and at Parsons College and co-authored an organic chemistry textbook.

Relocating to Peoria in the late 1970's, Henry served as a research chemist at the USDA lab. He was the author of numerous publications on the synthesis of deuterated fatty acids for use in a study of the metabolism of fats in humans. After retiring in 1992, Henry taught chemistry part time at Bradley University.

In 1983 he met and married Nancy Safford and welcomed a stepson Michael (Jennifer) Safford and step-daughter Lisa (Ross) Waskin. Nancy and Henry have twelve beloved grandchildren: Nicholas, Joshua, Victoria, Deanna, Samuel, Benjamin, David, Austin, Rachel, Autumn, Addison and Braden; and the additional blessing of four great-grandchildren: Ian, Isabella, Eliana, and Danielle.

Henry and Nancy loved to travel overseas and in the US. They hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon seven times. Henry's dedication to education continued with his active participation in the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Bradley.

Henry was a longtime member of the Universalist Unitarian Church, where his memorial service will be held Saturday, May 10, 2025 at 1 pm. There will be no visitation. Memorial donations may be made to the UU Church of Peoria, 3000 W. Richwoods, Peoria, or a university of your choice.  Affordable Funeral & Cremation Services of Central Illinois, Peoria has been entrusted with arrangements.