December 13 2016: ISAACS, Richard C.A.

RICHARD C.A. ISAACS (Age 51)

On Tuesday, December 6, 2016, of Silver Spring, MD. Beloved father of Justin and Daniel Isaacs; son of Harry Isaacs (deceased) and Yvonne Isaacs; brother of Patrick, Michael, and Marie. Relatives and friends may call at St. John the Baptist Church, 12319 New Hampshire Avenue, Silver Spring, MD, on Saturday, December 17, beginning at 11:30 a.m. where Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 12:30 p.m. Interment Maple Grove Cemetery Kew Gardens, NY on Monday, December 19 at 1 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to Food for the Poor, www.foodforthepoor.org.

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Richard Christopher Anthony, 51 of Silver Spring, MD, entered into eternal life on Tuesday, December 6, 2016.  Devoted father of Justin Isaacs and Daniel Isaacs.  Dear brother of Patrick Crosby; Michael Isaacs and his wife Kelly; Marie Campbell and her husband Carl.  Cherished uncle of Jason, Brian, Christina, Jayden, and Nathan.  Survived by his mother Yvonne Isaacs.  Also survived by many other relatives and friends.  Predeceased by his father, Harry Isaacs.

Richard was born in Kingston, Jamaica to Yvonne (nee Dean) and Harry Isaacs.  Beginning in his youth and continuing throughout his life, Richard had a love for books and writing.  As a result, he studied diligently throughout his life.  Early memories of Richard describe him, “taking over the dining table with his books and studying hours upon hours.”  Richard loved to share his knowledge with others, making those around him better.  He also admired horses and enjoyed photography.  Richard attended St. George’s College High School, Jamaica, West Indies.  After high school, Richard attended University of the West Indies at Mona in Kingston, Jamaica where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry (Special Honors, 1st Class).  Upon emigrating to the United States, Richard attended Columbia University where he earned a Master of Arts degree in Chemistry, Master of Philosophy degree in Organic Chemistry, and a Doctorate degree in Organic Chemistry.  In his early professional life, Richard worked as a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at Sloan-Kettering Institute for Cancer Research in New York City.  He spent most of his professional career working at Merck Research Laboratories in West Point, PA, where he held various positions, including Senior Research Fellow.  While working at Merck, Richard conducted research in the areas of AIDS, Cardiovascular Diseases, and Infectious Diseases and published thirteen research papers.  He won two Merck Research Laboratories Key Inventorship Awards.  The first award was for HIV Integrase Inhibitor Development Drug Candidate Molecule, and the second was for Thrombin Inhibitor Developmental Drug Candidate Molecule.  After more than 15 years of conducting research at Merck, Richard left private industry and continued his career working in the public sector for the United States Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Mid-Atlantic Laboratory in Largo, MD, as a Senior Forensic Chemist until his passing.  During his career with DEA, Richard analyzed over 1200 drug exhibits and qualified more than 20 times as an expert witness in Baltimore City Circuit Court, District of Columbia Superior Court, and United States District Court in Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia.  He was highly regarded in the forensic chemistry community for his expertise in synthetic organic chemistry and mass spectral interpretation.  As a result, Richard was often requested to give forensic drug chemistry lectures and presentations particularly regarding fentanyl and synthetic cannabinoids.  He also published three technical research papers during his employment with DEA.  Richard was a member of the American Chemical Society and the Clandestine Laboratory Investigating Chemists Association.