Svante Bjarne Wold

Svante passed away peacefully at home in New Hampshire on January 4, 2022.

Born on March 14, 1941, in Stockholm, Sweden to Herman Wold and Anna-Lisa Arrhenius Wold, he served in the Swedish army before attending University in Uppsala. He then attended Umea University achieving a PhD in chemistry, later to become the Chair professor of organic chemistry. The term “chemometrics” was coined by Svante in a 1971 grant application, and the International Chemometrics Society was formed shortly thereafter by Svante and Bruce Kowalski, two pioneers in the field. Svante then did his post doctoral work at The University of Wisconsin, Madison. Svante was one the founders of Umetrics. Svante and his wife, Nouna, grew the company which developed software and taught multivariate analysis. Svante had over 400 publications and over 70,000 citations.
Svante’s loss will be felt around the world, an innovator without equal, a leader of the analytic field who gave meaning to the multivariate process, understanding with real world application.
Svante is survived by his wife Nouna Kettaneh, his soulmate and source of strength for 34 years living and working side by side to the end; his sisters Maria Wold Troell and Agnes Wold and their families; his daughter Magdalena Wold, her husband Goran Jonsson, and their children Grim Jonsson Wold, Sindre Jonsson Wold,and Vilde Jonsson Wold; his daughter Susanna Wold, her husband Ulf Daneklev, and their children Svante Daneklev Wold and Gemma Daneklev Wold; his daughter Leigh Kettaneh, her husband Daniel Wohlgemuth and their children Michele Kettaneh and her husband Hassan and daughter Adriana, Amira, Sami and Kettaneh, and Thomas, Adam, and Annie Wohlgemuth and many, many other beloved relatives and friends.

Svante was the most humble, kind and generous gentleman. In his retirement he enjoyed travel, chess and fine wines. He had an insatiable appetite for cheese, often played tennis with his wife and friends where he was unstoppable at the net. His ever faithful golden retriever, Rosie, always helping by chasing loose balls. Svante’s warm sense humor, wit and charm will be missed by all who knew him.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Svante B Wold Scholarship Fund of Chemometrics