Dr. John L. Worden was born in South Bend, Indiana on December 11, 1907 to John L. Worden, Sr. and Sadie Dinan Worden. Worden attended Notre Dame Prep School from 1913-1920 and South Bend High School from 1920-1924. He earned his B.S. in Chemistry and Biology from the University of Notre Dame in 1928, and his M.S. in Biology and Education from St. Bonaventure College in 1935. He would eventually go on to earn a PhD in Philosophy in Biology from St. Bonaventure University in 1957.

Before beginning his career at St. Bonaventure, Worden worked as Assistant Professor of Biology and Premedical Advisor at St. Thomas College in St. Paul, Minnesota. On December 28, 1933, he married Leone Borer in St. Paul, Minnesota. They would have four children: John L. III, Lorenz M., Robert L., and Margaret S.

Worden became Assistant Professor at St. Bonaventure College in 1933. His many roles at St. Bonaventure include Professor of Biology (1936-1973), Premedical Advisor (1935-1943), Chairman of the Department of Biology (1937-1947), Registrar, Graduate School (1941-1955), Acting Dean of the Graduate School (1943-1945), Chairman of the Committee on Recommendations (1937-1945), Secretary of the Committee on Research and Development (1955-1973), and served on the Graduate Council from 1941-1973. When he retired in 1973, Worden was promoted to Professor Emeritus in 1973.

During World War II, Worden became the director of the Engineering, Science, and Management War Training Program for the United States Office of Education from 1940-1945. Worden was also the Director of First Aid Training Schools in Cattaraugus County for the American Red Cross from 1940-1945.

Worden served as consultant and researcher for many companies including Wesix Electric Heat Company, Pennzoil United Corporation, International Business Machines, Hysol Division – Dexter Corporation, Conap Corporation, Ford-Philco Corporation, and the U.S. Defense Electronics Supply Center. He supervised the building and development of a tissue culture lab on campus, one of the first of its kind in the United States. His work with fungus resistance research, air ions, and tissue cultures was the focus of his work for decades when he was not teaching.

In the late 1960s and 1970s, Worden became Coordinator and Senior Instructor for Cattaraugus County’s Emergency Medical Technician Program. He also served as Coordinator for the Cattaraugus County Department of Health’s Emergency Medical Services Division. He also spent time as Councilor and Treasurer of the Lakes Area Regional Medical Program’s Emergency Medical Services Project.

Worden was a member of many societies, including National Association of EMTS (founding member), Cattaraugus County Civil Defense – Medical Corps, American Association for Advancement of Science, American Chemical Society, American Association of Cell Biology, Tissue Culture Association (charter member), Sigma Xi, Indiana Academy of Science, Minnesota Academy of Science, Catholic Round Table of Science, International Society for Biometeorology and Bioclimatology, and the American Association of Anatomists.

John Worden published many articles. His most popular work was A Laboratory Manual of Vertebrate Embryology: A Volume for Use in Colleges and Universities that he co-authored with Hubert Vecchierello, OFM.

John Worden died on April 17, 1979.

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Click here for a list of the collection.

Click here to see photos of St. Bonaventure taken by Dr. Worden.

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