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Spring Issue 2008
In Memoriam
In Memoriam
Theodore M. Brody
Charles C. Capen
Seymor L. Friess
Ronald Joiner
Sven Moeschlin
Richard A. Mueller
Arthur J. Palotta
Harold M. Peck
Farrel R. Robinson
Roger W. Russell
Thomas Salthouse
Fred H. Snyder
Torald H. Sollman
Julius D. Taylor
R. Tecwyn Williams
Hyman J. Zimmerman
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Theodore M. Brody
Dr. Theodore M. Brody, a medical researcher and educator, died June 11, 2007, in East Lansing, Michigan, at the age of 87. He graduated from Rutgers University and served in the Pacific Theatre during World War II. He received his doctorate from the University of Illinois, Chicago, and joined the faculty of the University of Michigan in 1952. He was the founding chairman of the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology at Michigan State University and fostered the establishment of the medical school in 1966.
In 1955, the American Society of Pharmacology and Toxicology recognized his achievements by conferring to him the John Jacob Abel Award. In 1974 he served as the President of this society and was awarded the Sollman award for achievements in pharmacology in 1995. He was also the recipient of the Distinguished Faculty Award at Michigan State University. Moreover, he co-authored multiple editions of a textbook of pharmacology, now entitled Brody’s Human Pharmacology. He is survived by his wife, Ethel, children Steven, Debra, Laura, Elizabeth, and seven grandchildren.
Charles C. Capen (1936–2008) Internationally Acclaimed Comparative Toxicologist and Endocrine Toxicologist
Submitted by Roger O. McClellan, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Dr. Charles C. Capen passed away after a brief heroic battle against metastatic colon cancer on March 1, 2008, at his home in Westerville, Ohio where he lived with his wife, Dr. Sharron Martin Capen. Charles was born on September 3, 1936, in Tacoma, Washington and grew up on a farm near Yelm, Washington in sight of majestic Mt. Rainer. His father, a dairy farmer, taught him a never-ending work ethic and to love and respect animals, and his mother, a primary school teacher, instilled in him a love of learning.
At the memorial service for Charles, I saw a wonderful photograph of him in bib overalls at about age 9 taken in the barnyard of his parent’s farm. Although I knew the answer, I could not help but ask the rhetorical question—What was the young boy going to be when he grew up? At the time the photograph was taken, I am sure the young boy did not know nor did his parents. Growing up on a dairy farm, Chuck saw first hand cows that required the attention of a Veterinarian. These experiences, no doubt, led Chuck to study Veterinary Medicine at Washington State University (WSU).
I had the great fortune to have Chuck as a classmate at WSU. In the fall of 1956, we joined 48 other young men determined to graduate in four years with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree. When we started classes that fall, I suspect that all of us shared a somewhat similar, and perhaps narrow, vision of what Veterinarians do based on personal contact with Veterinarians taking care of cows or other domestic livestock or pets.
That vision soon began to change for some of us as we became immersed in a challenging Veterinary Medicine curriculum. With some exceptional faculty as role models, our vision of what we might do just kept getting broader and broader. For Chuck, that vision started to crystallize in his second year of Veterinary Medical College when he got the “pathology bug.” Chuck had always been an excellent student, now he became a superb student—the more he learned the more he wanted to learn, especially about pathology and disease processes. After receiving his DVM in 1960 from WSU, he continued his quest for knowledge as a Veterinary Pathology resident and graduate student at The Ohio State University (OSU). He received his M.S. degree (1961), his Ph.D. degree (1965), became a Diplomate (1965) of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists, and joined the faculty of the College of Veterinary Medicine, OSU. He became a true scholar. He continued to learn and, more significantly, he developed a love of teaching—conveying to others what he knew, and did not know, and seeking to reveal the unknown through research. Most importantly, he developed enthusiasm for applying what he knew to important issues in animal and human health and disease. It is not surprising that his earliest research was concerned with a common disease of dairy cows—post parturient hypocalcomia. That path of research led him to become an expert on diseases involving Vitamin D and calcium metabolism. His vision expanded from comparative pathology to also embrace endocrine toxicology.
At OSU, he rapidly progressed through the academic ranks, ultimately receiving the title of Distinguished University Professor in 2002. For 21 years, he was Chairperson of the Department of Veterinary Biosciences (formerly Veterinary Pathobiology) shaping it into a significant link between Veterinary and Human Medicine. Over the past 40 years, his influence and contributions to the fields of endocrinology, toxicology, and veterinary pathology have been enormous. Considered by most to be the world authority on veterinary endocrine pathology, he was renowned for his work in the use of animal models to study human diseases. Dr. Capen published over 200 peer-reviewed manuscripts in the top journals of his fields. In addition, he wrote more than 100 book chapters, many in textbooks still used widely by students in endocrinology, toxicology, and pathology. His students are now leaders throughout academia, government, and industry and have contributed significantly to his reputation as an outstanding teacher and research mentor.
Chuck received many honors for his substantial achievements. I doubt they were ever a part of his vision nor did he ever seek them. They just came along as was most appropriate, later he opened doors so others could receive similar accolades. These included being named a Distinguished Member of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists—at the time one of only 22 Diplomates of 1300 in the College to receive such a designation. Other honors include election into the National Academies Institute of Medicine (1992), Distinguished Scholar Award-OSU (1993), Distinguished Alumnus of the WSU College of Veterinary Medicine (1997), recipient of the Career Achievement Award for the Society of Toxicologic Pathology (2006), American Association for the Advancement of Science Fellow (2006), numerous American Veterinary Medical Association Awards, and Distinguished Alumnus of WSU (2007). Dr. Capen was a widely sought-after consultant for many of the top pharmaceutical companies around the globe. In addition, due to his international reputation, he was elected to leadership positions in major scientific societies including the American College of Veterinary Pathologists, the Society of Toxicologic Pathology, and Society of Toxicology. These awards and positions of honor reflect his sustained excellence as a scholar and the respect he garnered as a dedicated researcher and as a mentor/teacher.
Chuck’s vision also changed when he met and married Sharron Martin, a fellow professor in the OSU College of Veterinary Medicine, in 1968. He continued his teaching and research and the thrill of owning and driving fine cars. Chuck and Sharron enjoyed classical music, the opera, and their home in the woods. They enjoyed fine food and wine and the company of friends, both local and around the world. They became accomplished nature photographers and traveled the world together visiting every continent, indeed, returning several times to some remote locations to see and photograph wildlife.
We now know the answer to our question about the young boy in bib overalls in the barnyard. It was a long and wonderful road from a small dairy farm in western Washington to a named professorship at The Ohio State University and international acclaim as a veterinary and comparative medicine scientist. He was a great friend to many people, a mentor to his graduate students and many professional students. Along that path he never forgot his roots or his friends. He enjoyed and lived every day to its fullest. We have lost a remarkable scholar and wonderful friend, but we will carry our memories of him forever.
Ronald Joiner
Dr. Ronald Joiner, 63, died on Sunday, May 11, 2008, in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. He received a bachelor of science degree (1966) from Southeastern Louisiana University, a master’s of science degree (1968) from Louisiana State University, and a doctorate (1971) from Mississippi State University. He was a postdoctoral fellow at Texas A& M from 1971 to 1973. Dr. Joiner was the Manager of Global Toxicology, General Electric Plastics, from May 1997 to April 2005. He is survived by his wife, Michelle, three sons, a daughter-in-law, and two grandchildren.
Arthur J. Pallotta
Dr. Arthur J. Pallotta, died on June 1, 2007, four days from his 80th birthday, at his home in Ashburn, Virginia. He was born in Boston and moved to the Washington, D.C. area to attend Georgetown University, from which he received a bachelor’s degree in chemistry (1950), a master’s degree in biochemistry (1953), and a Ph.D. in pharmacology (1956). He served in the U.S. Army in China from 1945–1947.
He was a member of the Society of Toxicology, the American Chemical Society, the American Association for Clinical Chemists, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Federation for Clinical Research, the American Institute of Biological Sciences, the Washington Academy of Sciences, and the Virginia Academy of Sciences. He is survived by his wife Mary, seven children, two sisters, a brother, 23 grandchildren, and 17 great-grandchildren.
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