We are very very saddened to report the sudden and unexpected death of our
friend and colleague Dr. John Faulkner, marine natural products chemist at
Scripps Institution of Oceanography, on Nov. 23, 2002. We did not learn of
this soon enough to include it in the December issue of Ascidian News. John
published many papers on ascidian natural products as well as those from a
number of other marine organisms. His papers have been a regular feature in
the New Publications sections of AN for many years. We welcome tributes,
anecdotes and other contributions concerning Dr. Faulkner for the May 2003
issue of Ascidian News.
Following is the tribute from the California Sea Grant December newsletter:
--------------------------------------------
In Memoriam D. John Faulkner 1942-2002
It is with deep sadness that we report that Dr. D. John Faulkner, a pioneer
in the field of marine natural products chemistry, died November 23, 2002,
from complications following recent hart surgery. He was 60 years old.
Faulkner had been a California Sea Grant researcher since 1970. A
professor of marine chemistry at Scripps Institution of Oceanography,
Faulkner dedicated his scientific career to the discovery and isolation of
chemicals from marine organisms and to exploring their potential use as
pharmaceuticals. Sea Grant-funded resarch on marine natural products by
Faulkner and other scientists established California Sea Grant nationally
as a pioneer in marine biotechnology research.
Faulkner's expertise was in elucidating the chemical structures of
compounds. His work was recognized in 2000 with the Paul J. Scheuer Award
in Marine Natural Products for Outstanding Contributions to the field. A
symposium in his honor was held at Scripps in August 2002.
"John was dedicated to the purity of scientific thought. He possessed
uncompromising intellectual integrity and the courage to speak his mind,"
said Charles Kennel, director of Scripps Institution of Oceanography. "He
made numerous fundamental contributions to marine chemistry and became one
of the world's eminent marine natural products chemists."
Faulkner is survived by his wide, Meryl, of La Jolla. Memorial services
were pending.
-------------------------------------
Sincerely, Gretchen and Charles Lambert
Gretchen Lambert
12001 11th Ave. NW
Seattle, WA 98177
tel. 206-365-3734
[log in to unmask]
http://nsm.fullerton.edu/~lamberts/ascidian/
"Ascidians are back in the limelight, with a good chance of staying there."
-- O. Pourquié, Nature 8 Feb. 2001.
|