A West Virginia University graduate who went on to play a key role in the development of color film at Eastman Kodak Co. has bequeathed more than $400,000 in company stock to WVU s College of Engineering and Mineral Resources.

The late Victor Pantalone of Rochester, N.Y., and formerly of Brookline, Mass., made the gift through the WVU Foundation Inc. The gift will create fellowships in the Department of Chemical Engineering, providing competitive stipends to recruit and retain qualified graduate students in the department.

“I was privileged to meet Victor Pantalone and his family several times,”said Dady Dadyburjor, department chairman.”He was indeed a far-sighted individual, and one with a great zest for life. Through his careful planning and his generosity, he has paved the way for generations of graduate students to benefit.”

Pantalone, a 1940 chemical engineering graduate, was a retired senior production development engineer with the Eastman Kodak and was instrumental in the invention of the emulsion process to develop color film.

His gift has been made in conjunction with the Building Greatness Campaign: West Virginia University, a University-wide initiative being conducted by the WVU Foundation to raise $250 million in private support. The WVU Foundation, a private non-profit corporation, is the designated agency to receive and administer gifts from private individuals and organizations for the benefit of West Virginia University.