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Daniel Broida

Daniel Broida (August 24, 1913 – October 12, 1981), was an American chemical executive, biochemist, and inventor.

Early life and schooling
Born in Springfield, Illinois to Joseph Broida and Mary Rosenfeld Broida, he grew up in Saint Louis with three sisters.

He received a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Washington University in Saint Louis, 1936.

He served to major in the Army of the United States from 1941 to 1945, out of Jefferson Barracks in Saint Louis.

Career
Midwest Consultants, started by salesmen Aaron and Bernard Fisher, hired Daniel "Dan" Broida in 1936 who became the guiding spirit for the company in its early years. His first product was saccharin at a time when sugar was scarce. His biochemical experience led to cosmetics, shoe polish, and gold-plating.

In 1946 the company became Sigma Chemical Company, to which he was Founder and Chairman of the Board.

When the company merged with Milwaukee’s Aldrich Chemical Co. in 1975., Broida became director Sigma-Aldrich Corporation and he was in that role until he retired in 1981. He was also Director, Sigma-London Chemical Company in London.

Broida was always interested in connecting directly with his customers. His home phone number appeared in the company catalog and customers could call collect and place orders or simply ask questions about the company’s products.

The Dan Broida Sigma Aldrich Scholarship Fund Inc., was founded in 1982.

Firefly Research
Sigma Chemical was the first manufacturer to produce pure adenosine triphosphate (ATP) for science. To capitalize on ATP, Broida and Sigma investigated reactions involving the molecule which lead them to the lightning bug (aka firefly). Its tail generates light because it contains the chemical luciferin. In the presence of ATP and the enzyme luciferase, it generates a cool, fixed wavelength, yellow-green light.

This light on/off reaction is an indicator of life, with the glow's strength proportional to the amount of life present helping to determine food contamination and disease progression.

Its Sigma Chemical Co. division, led by Dan Broida, later expanded into biochemicals and clinical products. Sigma merged with Milwaukee’s Aldrich Chemical Co. in 1975.

Death
Daniel Broida died October 12, 1981 after a brief illness at his home leaving behind his wife Roma Rosalyn Milder and children: Joel Gary, Richard Allan, Melanie Susan, Marna Jeanne.