In Memoriam: Carol Lee Poole
ILMA mourns the passing of Carol Lee Poole, a dedicated health and safety professional whose expertise and commitment made a lasting contribution to the lubricants industry and the Association.
As a Health and Safety Specialist at Quaker Chemical Corp. in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, Poole worked closely with John Howell, Ike Tripp of Etna Products, and others to develop an important best practices document to minimize or prevent occurrences of occupational dermatitis sometimes associated with metal removal fluids. That document is now an ASTM standard, E2693-26, “Standard Practice for Prevention of Dermatitis in the Wet Metal Removal Environment.”
Poole’s outstanding service to ILMA was recognized in 2007 when she received the Association’s Distinguished Service Award, now known as the Bellanti Award.
In 2014, Poole joined GHS Resources Inc., where she continued sharing her extensive occupational health and safety expertise, helping organizations develop training and compliance programs under OSHA’s Globally Harmonized System (GHS) requirements.
“Carol provided our industry with clarity on subjects that were problematic,” remembered Cathy Novak, formerly of Cadillac Oil Co. and a fellow Bellanti Award recipient. “She was able to communicate, in laymen’s terms, the issues and solutions. Her superpower was her ability to stay focused on the problems, find the root cause and find a solution. Her gift to all of us was providing a safe work environment and teaching others how to achieve that.”
Poole’s dedication to workplace safety, her generous sharing of knowledge, and her service to ILMA leave a meaningful legacy. We extend our heartfelt condolences to her family, friends and colleagues. She will be remembered with gratitude and respect.
Celebration of Life
A celebration of Poole’s life will be held on Sunday, October 11, 2026, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at James J. Terry Funeral Home, 736 E. Lancaster Avenue, Downingtown, Pennsylvania.
Memorial Donations
In lieu of flowers, Carol’s family requests that memorial donations be made to Oceana.
