FITCHBURG - Paul J. Bertics, age 55, passed away unexpectedly at his home on Thursday, Dec. 22, 2011. He was born Nov. 6, 1956, in La Jolla, Calif., the son of John and Pearl (Tarkowski) Bertics. Paul was a 1974 graduate of Carlsbad High School, Carlsbad, Calif., and received his Magna cum laude B.S. with highest honors in biochemistry from the University of California, Los Angeles in 1978, his Ph.D. in physiological chemistry in 1984 from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and his postdoctoral training at the University of California, San Diego from 1984-86.

Paul was united in marriage to Sandra Fritsch March 20, 1982. They have one daughter, his pride and joy, Vicky who is now doing postdoctoral training in oceanographic studies in Germany. Paul joined the UW faculty in 1986 and is currently the Robert Turell Professor of Physiology (endowed chair), Kellett Professor of Biomolecular Chemistry, a member of the Executive Committee of the UW Comprehensive Cancer Center, and a Co-Director in the Material Sciences Research Center in the UW School of Engineering. Paul was extremely dedicated to the students at the UW serving as chair of Medical School admissions for years, instructing over 3000 medical students, training over 55 graduate and postdoctoral students and mentoring countless undergraduates.

He has received numerous awards, including the student-selected UW Medical School teaching award twice and the UW Distinguished Teaching Award - Chancellor's Teaching Award. Paul is an editor of the Journal of Immunology and the Chief Science Advisor of Platypus Technologies, Fitchburg.

Paul has played the guitar since High School, and also has an interest in electronics, with his current hobby of restoring tube radios from the 1920's to the 50's. He enjoyed fishing, sports, nature and antiquing with his wife.

Paul is survived by his loving wife of 29 years, Sandra; his cherished daughter, Victoria "Vicky"; his sister, Sandra Dries, of Santee, Calif.; sister-in-law, Sharon (Mike) Czysh of Waldo, Wis.; brother-in-law, Roger (Michelle) Fritsch; niece, Gloria Fritsch; nephew, Maxwell Fritsch of Liberty Township, Ohio; father-in-law, Erwin Fritsch of Sheboygan; and numerous friends, as well as the many students that he has taught and fellow faculty members of the University of Wisconsin. Paul was preceded in death by his parents, brother-in-law, Steve Dries; mother-in-law, Gloria Fritsch; and his grandmother, Mary Tarkowski.

A visitation will be held from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2011, at CRESS FUNERAL HOME, 3610 Speedway Road, Madison, WI 53705. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 29, 2011, at LUTHER MEMORIAL CHURCH, 1021 University Ave., Madison, WI 53715, with visitation from 10 a.m. until the time of service at the church. A memorial will be established in Paul's name.

This obituary originally ran in the December 25, 2011 Wisconsin State Journal.

Paul Bertics BMC Faculty page here.