Henry Goldsmith, a retired chemical engineer and former president of Allied Products Inc., died of a heart attack yesterday at Northwest Hospital Center. The Pikesville resident was 79.

Born in Berlin and raised in Vienna and Prague, Mr. Goldsmith and his family escaped Nazi persecution by immigrating to Baltimore in 1938.

After graduating from City College in 1939, he earned a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from the Johns Hopkins University in 1944. He subsequently earned a master's degree and a doctorate in chemical engineering there.

After working for a chemical engineering firm in Ohio and teaching at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Mr. Goldsmith went to work in 1950 for his father, who owned Nybalt Scrap Metal Co. in East Baltimore.

After his father's death and selling the business in 1962, Mr. Goldsmith joined Catalyst Research in Mount Washington and became its head of research and development. While there, he led the team that developed the lithium battery used in heart pacemakers.

From 1974 until retiring in 1988, Mr. Goldsmith was president of Allied Products Inc., a Baltimore manufacturer of flooring materials.

Mr. Goldsmith was a sports fan and enjoyed attending the symphony and opera. He also was an avid reader of World War II history and biography.

He was a member of Beth El Congregation.

Services will be held at 11 a.m. tomorrow at Sol Levinson & Bros., 8900 Reisterstown Road, Pikesville.

Mr. Goldsmith is survived by his wife of 50 years, the former Caroline Hammerman; a son, Frederick S. Goldsmith of Parkton; three daughters, Heidi M. Goldsmith of Washington, Joy B. Goldsmith of Lutherville and Sharon E. Goldsmith of Owings Mills; a sister, Inge Lynn of Baltimore; and three grandchildren.