It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Mr. August Curley Sr. August passed on May 23, 2021 after a long illness. August was born October 19, 1927 in Helena, Ark. to Agostino Onorato and Spencer Elvia Curley. He served in the Army at Fort Chaffee, AR and in Korea and Japan from 1950 – 1955. August was a graduate of Morehouse College and completed post-graduate work at Clark Atlanta University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of Rochester and Georgia State University. As a Phi Beta Kappa Environmental Researcher, his career in the field of biochemistry, toxicology and pharmacology spanned almost four decades. Following discharge from the Army August worked for the Veterans’ Administration in Battle Creek Michigan. August moved back to Arkansas and taught school, eventually moving to Atlanta Georgia where he also taught Chemistry at David T. Howard High School. His career in the toxicology/pharmacology field began at the Atlanta Toxicology Laboratory, which later became the Center for Disease Control, where he was Chief and Supervisory Research Chemist. President Nixon formed the Environmental Protection Agency, and August transferred to that agency located in Research Triangle Park, NC. He served in several research and administrative functions with EPA, including time spent as an environmental consultant to the World Health Organization and Pesticides Research Manager in Egypt. He finally retired after serving as a visiting scientist and program manager with the Historically Black Colleges and Universities/Minority Institutions (HBCU/MI) Consortium at Clark Atlanta University. The Consortium was tasked with development of minority education programs in preparation for environmental/toxicological careers. During his long career, he published and contributed to over 30 research papers in peer-reviewed journals. August was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa, the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, the American Chemical Society, the Society of Toxicology and the Knights of Columbus. His parents, along with six brothers and sisters preceded him in death. His son August Onorato Curley, Jr. (Rochelle) and daughter, Karen R. Curley Tisdale, survive him, along with grandchildren Daria, Miles, Leah and Hannah, in addition to a host of relatives across the country and in Italy. A funeral mass will be held at St. Gabriel’s Catholic Church in Fayetteville, GA on Friday June 4 at 11am. Interment will be at the Oak Hill Cemetery in Battle Creek, MI. The family requests donations to the Morehouse College General Scholarship Fund in lieu of flowers.
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