Biomolecular Chemistry in the News
Robert L. Metzenberg, Emeritus Professor of Biomolecular Chemistry, died on July 15, 2007 at the age of 77. He is survived by his wife Helene, two sons, a daughter-in-law and two grandchildren. Bob joined the Department of Physiological Chemistry (subsequently renamed Biomolecular Chemistry) as an Assistant Professor in 1958 and retired in 1996. On retirement from the University of Wisconsin he moved to Stanford where he continued to be active, as a Research Professor. In 2002 Bob and Helene relocated to Northridge, California to be near their children and grandchildren. Even then, he continued to be active in research, setting up a small genetics laboratory in a spare bedroom of his home. Bob received many academic honors, including being named John Bascom Professor by the UW Board of Regents in 1978 in honor of his undergraduate teaching; election to the National Academy of Sciences in 1997; and, in 2005, the Genetics Society of America's Thomas Hunt Morgan award for life time achievement. In 1997 he was honored with a Wisconsin Medical Alumni Award. Bob taught continuously in the first year medical student course from 1962-1993, and was course chair for much of that time. He also helped found the Biocore program for undergraduates and taught continuously in it until his retirement. A memorial lecture and reception in honor of his life and work will be held September 7, 2007 at 3:30 pm in the Genetics/Biotechnology Center auditorium.