Deaths
November 24, 2009, Volume 56, No. 13	Print Issue

Dr. Glick, Dental Medicine & Medicine

Dr. Jane Glick, retired faculty administrator for the Cell & Molecular Biology Graduate Group in the School of Medicine, passed away November 15 of injuries from a fall; she was 65.

Dr. Glick graduated from Randolph-Macon Women’s College (now Randolph College) in Virginia and then completed her PhD in biochemistry at Columbia University. After post-doctoral fellowships at both the National Institutes of Health and Stanford University, Dr. Glick joined the faculty at Penn in 1975 as a research assistant professor in the School of Dental Medicine.  Here Dr. Glick worked closely with colleague Dr. Phoebe Leboy, now professor emerita of biochemistry, to understand the mechanisms of action of tRNA methyltransferases. Dr. Glick then went to the Medical College of Pennsylvania, where she remained on the faculty until 1994, rising to the rank of professor of biochemistry. During this period she published 35 manuscripts on lipid metabolism in the top peer-reviewed journals, focusing on the biochemical controls of cholesterol accumulation. Dr. Glick was awarded the Lindback Teaching Award by the Medical College of Pennsylvania in 1985.

In 1994, Dr. Glick joined Penn Medicine as a senior research investigator, and later, adjunct associate professor in cell and molecular biology. Her scientific accomplishments while at Penn included understanding why macrophages in the arterial wall accumulate cholesterol, becoming “foam cells” that form the bulk of plaque causing heart disease. Dr. Glick also made important contributions to the understanding of what prevents macrophages from effectively removing excess cholesterol and she played a key role in identifying and cloning endothelial lipase, a major regulator of HDL metabolism.

Also in 1994, Dr. Glick became director of education in the Gene Therapy Program, which was later transferred into faculty administrator of the then fledgling Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Group (CAMB) within Biomedical Graduate Studies. Dr. Glick, along with fellow colleagues Jim Alwine, Jon Raper and Susan Ross, helped to transform CAMB into a national model of excellence by focusing on quality advising. Dr. Glick retired from this position in 2008.

In addition to her faculty and administrator duties, Dr. Glick served on the executive committee of the Philadelphia Antiques Show, which benefits the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.

Dr. Glick is survived by her husband, Dr. John Glick, faculty member and administrator in the School of Medicine; daughters, Katherine Anne Cox and Sarah Glick Johnson; grandchildren, Ashley, Andrew, Carter Cox and Walter Johnson; and a brother, Albert Mills, III.
Donations may be made to the Jane M. Glick Graduate Student Teaching Award, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, c/o the Development Office, 3535 Market St., Suite 750, Philadelphia, PA 19104.

Dr. Hymes, Former GSE Dean

Dr. Dell H. Hymes, dean of the Graduate School of Education from 1975-1987, passed away November 13 from complications of Alzheimer’s disease. He was 82 years old.

Prior to coming to Penn, Dr. Hymes held appointments at the University of California, Berkeley and Harvard University. Dr. Hymes joined the Penn faculty in 1965 as professor of folklore and linguistics and of anthropology. Before becoming dean, he had also served as professor of sociology and was associated with the University’s graduate groups in communications and in the history and sociology of science. As dean, Dr. Hymes started the linguistics program in GSE. He left in 1987 to serve on the faculty at the University of Virginia in both the anthropology and English departments. He retired from there in 1998 as an emeritus professor.

Throughout his career, Dr. Hymes had taught classes in linguistic anthropology, Native American mythology, ethno-poetics and Native American poetry. He was the author of several books including Language in Culture and Society, Foundations in Sociolinguistics: An Ethnographic Approach,  Studies in the History of Linguistic Anthropology and the most recent Now I Know Only So Far: Essays in Ethnopoetics.

After interrupting his studies to serve in the Army in World War II, Dr. Hymes graduated from Reed College in 1950. He went on to earn his doctorate in linguistics from Indiana University in 1955.

Dr. Hymes is survived by his wife, Virginia; four children, Vicky Unruh, Robert Hymes, Alison Hymes, and Kenneth Hymes; five grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and a brother, Corwin Hymes.

Memorial donations may be made to the Charlottesville Center for Peace and Justice (CCPJ), P.O. Box 3381, Charlottesville, VA 22903.

Dr. Katz, Medicine & Presbyterian

Dr. Robert I. Katz, former assistant professor of medicine at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and the Presbyterian Medical Center, passed away October 21. He was 72 years old.

Dr. Katz joined the University in the 1970s. He worked in the Penn Heart and Vascular area of the Presbyterian Medical Center until his resignation in 2001.

According to comments by former patients, Dr. Katz was known for his compassionate care and extraordinary bedside manner.

Dr. Katz graduated from Middlebury College in 1958, and earned his medical degree from Howard University in 1963.

Dr. Katz is survived by his wife, Mimsye; children, Adam, Daniel and Susan; and granddaughter, Isabella.

Memorial contributions may be made to the David M. Katz Scholarship Fund, Boyer College of Music and Dance, Temple University, 1715 North Broad St., Philadelphia, PA 19122, Attn: Tara Webb Duey.

Alex Ryles, Undergraduate Student

Alex Ryles, a sophomore in the College died November 22 at the age of 19. He was an urban studies major. An obit will appear next month.

Memorial Service: Dr. Raffensperger

On Tuesday, December 8 at 6 p.m., the School of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology will hold a memorial for Dr. Edward C. Raffensperger, professor emeritus of medicine, who died October 2 at 95 years old (Almanac October 13, 2009). The memorial will be held in the Austrian Auditorium, 1st floor of the Clinical Research Building, with a reception to follow.

Beef and Beer in Memory of Mr. Stefaniuk: December 10

A Beef and Beer Fundraiser will take place on Thursday, December 10, 5-10 p.m. at the Penn Museum in memory of Jason Stefaniuk, the web developer, programmer/analyst, for the Museum, who died in a car crash on October 4 at age 33 (Almanac October 20, 2009). Join friends, family and colleagues for an evening of fun, food, music, raffles and fond memories.

Mr. Stefaniuk was a member of the IT and Digital Media Center staff as the personality behind the Museum’s Flickr, YouTube, and Facebook pages and was working on numerous other projects to improve the online and in-museum experience for visitors. Fluent in sign language, he was a contributor to the deaf community in Philadelphia. Penn Museum would like to soon launch guided video tours for the deaf and hearing-impaired to honor Mr. Stefaniuk’s memory. Tickets are $25 per person and all proceeds from this event will go directly towards establishing these tours, see www.penn.museum.

Dr. Tureck, Obstetrics & Gynecology

Dr. Richard W. Tureck, professor of obstetrics and gynecology in the School of Medicine, died October 28, while vacationing abroad with family. He was 60 years old.

Dr. Tureck joined the Penn Medicine department of obstetrics and gynecology as a fellow in 1979 and spent his entire career at Penn, rising to the rank of professor. “Dr. Tureck was the first person to direct our in-vitro fertilization (IVF) program—one of the first in the country,” said Dr. Christos Coutifaris, chief of reproductive endocrinology and infertility at Penn. “He did this with enthusiasm, dedication and passion and always put ‘patients first.’ When, many years later, I became involved with the administration of the program, I experienced first hand how much all the patients appreciated his care and his caring. They absolutely loved him. This says a lot about the lives he touched and the happiness he generated.”

Dr. Tureck received his undergraduate degree from Manhattan College and his medical degree from Cornell University Medical College in 1975. After completing his internship and residency in obstetrics and gynecology at The Roosevelt Hospital, the Teaching Hospital of Columbia University Medical College in 1979, he came to Penn as a fellow in reproductive endocrinology and infertility. Dr. Tureck served as director of Penn’s IVF and Embryo Transfer Program from 1982 to 1994, when he became a full professor.

“Dr. Tureck was devoted to his patients and dedicated to teaching our fellows, residents, and medical students,” said Dr. Deborah Driscoll, chair of obstetrics and gynecology at Penn. He served as a faculty preceptor and a career counselor since 1986. Dr. Tureck was the director of reproductive surgery at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania from 1994 to 2006.

“The first IVF pregnancy in the tri-state area—which resulted in the successful birth of a baby girl—was done under Dr. Tureck’s leadership,” said Dr. Steven Sondheimer, professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Penn. “That baby girl has grown into healthy adult woman who is now the mother of a newborn child, conceived without the need of infertility treatment. Dr. Tureck was a pioneer in the field of infertility who searched for ways to improve treatment. He traveled to England to learn ultrasound egg retrieval and introduced it to this region. Before this, egg retrieval required an abdominal incision,” added Dr. Sondheimer.

Dr. Tureck was a fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology and a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science; the American Society of Reproductive Medicine; the American Society for Gynecologic Laparoscopists; the Society of Reproductive Surgeons; and The American Fertility Society.

Dr. Tureck is survived by his wife, Pamela and two sons, Richard and Brett, daughter-in-law and grandson. “On a more personal note,” added Dr. Coutifaris, “I—along with the help of Richard’s youngest son, Brett—played a role in introducing him to live opera performances. His favorite was Mozart’s ‘The Marriage of Figaro.’ I won’t ever be able to listen to or see a performance of this opera again without thinking of Richard. He will be greatly missed, both professional and personally.”

Contributions may be made in honor of Dr. Tureck to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Development Office, 34th Street and Civic Center Blvd., Philadelphia, PA  19104-4399.