A tribute to a dear friend and fellow scientist
Dr. John Biaglow, Professor of Radiation Oncology at the University School of Medicine passed away peacefully on September 14, 2007.
Dr. John Biaglow, Professor of Radiation Oncology passed away peacefully on September 14, 2007. Dr Biaglow was a world leader in the field of radiation biochemistry. He received his Bachelor’s degree in chemistry from John Carroll University and his MS and PhD degrees in biochemistry from Loyola University. He taught and performed ground breaking research at Case Western Reserve from 1963 through 1984 at which time he moved to the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. At Penn, he was promoted to full Professor of Radiation Oncology, Director of the Research Division in the Department of Radiation Oncology and Professor of Biochemistry and Biophysics. Dr. Biaglow directed the Tumor Metabolism program at the Abramson Cancer Center at the University of Pennsylvania from 1987 - 1996. He published 130 articles in scientific journals and was the author and co-author of many reviews. John was instrumental in the adoption of 'biochemical thinking' by the Radiation Research Society (and others as well) and was particularly well-known for his understanding of the many roles that thiols play in cellular response to radiation and cytotoxins. In addition to his scientific pursuits at Penn, he also held Counselor positions in the Radiation Research Society and the International Society of Oxygen Transport to Tissue. He served on the NIH Radiation Oncology study section from 1991 thru 1995. He was a consultant to numerous corporations including Immunicon Corporation, Proctor and Gamble, Johnson and Johnson and Pharmacyclics.
John was a mentor and friend to young scientists, many of whom have moved on to become senior scientists around the United States. He was also a great animal lover, owning many a giant breed of dogs that mirrored his own imposing presence. He was a lover of baseball and football; his father John was a semi-professional player in Cleveland in the 1920 and 1930s. He passed this love of sports to his children
John is survived by his wife, Eileen Biaglow, 9 children, and 17 grandchildren. Almost all of them attended a surprise party last April for his 70th birthday, where a movie was shown of his many academic and non-scientific pursuits and his love of his family. John will be sorely missed by his many human and canine friends, family and colleagues around the world. His will be very large shoes to fill.
In lieu of flowers, Dr. Biaglow’s family requests that donations be made to the Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania, Department of Radiation Oncology, identified as “John E. Biaglow Memorial Fund” and mailed to 195 John Morgan Building, 3620 Hamilton Walk, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6072.
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