Air Products' former chairman and chief executive officer Edward Donley died on April 1 at the age of 95.

Donley was chairman of Air Products from 1978-1986, CEO from 1973-1986, and president and chief operating officer from 1966-1978."Our heartfelt condolences go to the Donley family for their loss. Air Products is deeply saddened by the passing of this remarkable man," said Seifi Ghasemi, Air Products' chairman, president and chief executive officer."Mr. Donley played a deeply impactful role in the formation of our company. His accomplishments as a leader were many and substantial, as he led the company through some challenging times and positioned Air Products in several areas for the success we continue to have today. Many of his ideals carry on daily in our company's objectives, one of the most important being our total commitment to safety."Donley held several advancing roles with Air Products after joining the company as its 22nd employee in 1943.He began his career as an engineering graduate and designed portable oxygen generators for the Allied bombers in World War II.He was also a sales engineer, sales manager, vice president, vice president and general manager, and executive vice president prior to his appointments to higher positions held with the company, and eventually, as the first successor to Air Products' initial Chairman, CEO and founder Leonard Pool.Donley retired in 1986 but continued to serve on Air Products' Executive Committee until 1992 following his term as chairman and CEO.Donley was active in health care and served as a trustee of Lehigh Valley Health Network and Dorothy Rider Pool Health Care Trust, and working with the Rotary Club to found Lehigh Valley Hospice Inc. in 1980 - just the second hospice in the United States at the time.