Robert J. Kerr, 80, chemist

Robert J. Kerr, 80, of Media, a chemist, engineer, actor and director whose alter ego was Benjamin Franklin, died of complications of an infection June 6 at Riddle Memorial Hospital.

Mr. Kerr was employed at the DuPont Co. for 32 years. In the 1950s, he was a member of the DuPont team that developed a synthetic magnetic substance, Crolyn for use in video and audiotape. After retiring from DuPont in 1984, he operated R.J. Kerr Audio/Video Services in Media for 20 years. He was known for his ability to recover images on damaged tapes, his son Robert A. said. He was the author of articles and books on video recording and editing, and also wrote, narrated and produced videos, including a documentary honoring the visit of Pope John Paul II to the shrine of Loreto in Italy in 1979.

Since 1936, Mr. Kerr had appeared in more than 50 plays and musicals with the Players Club in Swarthmore. He also directed 20 productions for the club and for other community theaters and dinner clubs.

He portrayed Benjamin Franklin in the Players Club production of 1776, and appeared as Franklin at DuPont trade shows and on promotional videos for an insurance company and for the National Park Service.

With his varied talents, his son said, Mr. Kerr had much in common with Franklin, whom he greatly admired.

He graduated from Swarthmore High School in 1944, and then served in the Navy in the States as a radar instructor. After his discharge, he earned a bachelor's degree from the College of Wooster in Ohio.

Since 1957, he had been married to Marjorie H. Kerr. They met while singing in the Rose Valley Chorus.

In addition to his wife and son, Mr. Kerr is survived by son David; two brothers; and four grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at Media Friends Meeting, 125 W. Third St., Media.