Joaquin Lubkowitz

Joaquin Alfredo Lubkowitz was born November 09, 1940 in Caracas Venezuela to German parents Joseph & Gertrude Lubkowitz. He attended La Salle Catholic High School in Venezuela and graduated in 1958 at the top of his class. He then attended Columbia University in New York City to study advanced English. He proceeded to the University of Louisville, Kentucky where he obtained his Bachelor Degree of Science in Chemistry. He proceeded to graduate from the University of Alabama in 1966 with a Master in Science and again in 1968 graduating with a Doctorate in Philosophy. Graduation was followed by a Post Doctoral Fellowship at the University of Alabama in 1968 under a grant from the National Science Foundation. He then was recruited by Monsanto Corporation as a Senior Research Chemist where he worked until 1969. In 1969 he received a phone call from the Office of the President of Venezuela because they needed someone with his skills to create the Nuclear Chemistry Laboratories of the Venezuelan Petroleum Industry. He joined the Venezuelan Institute for Scientific Investigations as Head of the Department of Nuclear Technology. He was promoted to the Venezuelan Technological Institute of Petroleum until 1981. Again promoted to the Venezuelan Petroleum Institute, a Division of Petroleum of Venezuela as Manager of the Analytical Chemistry Division where he oversaw over 100 employees. In 1984 he retired from the petroleum industry due to economic instability in the country of Venezuela and moved to the USA. Together with some friends founded Separation Systems of California in 1984. Simultaneously they founded Chromalab, an environmental laboratory in 1987. In 1989 Separation Systems was reincorporated in Florida USA where it has existed since that time and where Joaquin was President until his passing. He was in charge of all research and development and new advances for the company. He was a member of the American Society of Testing & Materials International (ASTM) where he chaired various committees and working groups. He received the Award of Appreciation from this world wide group, also the award of Excellence and the highest award conferred by his ASTM peers, the Sidney Andrews Scroll of Achievement for his contributions to the advancement of petroleum chemistry worldwide. Joaquin is also the recipient of the Andress Bello Medal Second Class, the highest civilian award conferred by the government of Venezuela and presented to him by the President of Venezuela. He was awarded by the Venezuelan Institute for Scientific Investigations for his contribution to the field of chemistry. He was awarded a Citation by the Venezuelan National Science Foundation (Fundacit) a Citation for coordinating the Technical Commission in Chemistry which was formed to further develop analytical chemistry in Venezuela. He was awarded in 1996 by his peers at the Latin American Congress of Chromatography for his lifetime achievements in the field of chromatography. He was awarded Presenter of the Year in 2005 by the Gulf Coast Conference for his advances in the field of petroleum chemistry. He was Awarded the E-Award for Excellence in Exporting in 2007 by the US Department of Commerce from the hands of President George W Bush.

Joaquin occupied the position of Venezuelan ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna and also Venezuelan Ambassador to the Organization of American States (OAS) in Washington DC. He was Head of the Advisory Board of Nuclear Energy. Member of the scientific committee in charge of distribution of funds for research awarded by the OAS to various countries.

He has written and published over fifty books and articles in the field of gas chromatography and nuclear technology. His last public presentation was October 2024, Improved Temperature Programmable Inlet for the Simulated Distillation of Crude Oil.

Joaquin was an avid chef and pastry maker. He attended the San Francisco Baking Institute where he completed cake and pastry baking. He attended La Calabash Cooking School in Tours France where he completed chef and pastry baking. His passion was dessert making which he regaled to friends and family. His croissants were famous as was his pears and almond tart. He was a contributor to the Italian Cultural Society and loved all things Italian and German. He was always proud of his German heritage.

He is preceded in death by his parents Joseph and Gertrude Lubkowitz and his brother Axel W. Lubkowitz. 

He is survived by his wife Adela (Fernandez) and adopted daughters, Viviamne (Arafet Sierra) Meneghini & Roberto Meneghini, Christian and Ian and by his daughter Leanne Sierra Lopez. Also survived by his cousin Alina (Franco) Atwell & Dr Bernard Atwell and cousins Alex and Ariela (Atwell) Spencer & Andrew Spencer.

Also survived by his sister Christa (Lubkowitz) Valera & Raul Valera, nieces and nephews Veronica & Manuel Vazquez, Valentina Valera , and Ricardo Valera, also by his sister in-law Maria Lubkowitz and nieces and nephews Daphne (Lubkowitz) Kirksey & Jeff, Erika (Lubkowitz) Bailey & Brian, and Mark Lubkowitz & Virginia (Ginger).

Honorary Pallbearers will be Dr. Bernard L. Atwell, Mr. Oscar Alexander Atwell, Dr. Mark Lubkowitz, Mr. Emilio Fernandez, Dr. Klaus Rosinsky, and Dr. Andres Candela.

Immediately following the burial at Holy Cross Cemetery we will receive all friends and family at the Pensacola Yacht Club, 1897 Cypress Street, Pensacola, FL.