Eugene (Gene) Weinberg died after a short illness on March 8, 2019—just a few days after his 97th birthday. He is survived by his wife Fran of nearly 70 years of marriage, daughter Barbara, son Geoffrey, four grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. He is predeceased by daughter Marjorie and son Michael.
Weinberg was an IU Biology faculty member since 1950 (with a joint appointment in Medical Sciences), starting as an assistant professor (of the then Department of Microbiology) and rising quickly through the ranks to Professor of Biology in 1961, where he served until his retirement as Professor Emeritus in 1992.
Since the 1960s, Gene was among the first scientists to advance the concept that humans and animals protect themselves from invasion by microbes and cancer cells by withholding iron from the invaders. For over half a century, he was at the forefront of his field, assimilating results from many research areas, developing a unified understanding of the data, and opening new areas of investigation. He was praised by his colleagues not only for being one of the first to recognize the relationship between iron and disease but also for nurturing its acceptance by the scientific community during its difficult early years.
Although Gene retired from IU more than 25 years ago, he continued his life-long contribution to science—publishing more than 60 papers since his retirement. IU Biology Chair Greg Demas wrote: “During my time as Associate Chair of the department, I had the honor of meeting Gene in his retirement office in Morrison Hall, where he arrived nearly daily to write his manuscripts on his faithful manual typewriter.”
Weinberg was widely respected for his extraordinary ability to propose new models and generate ideas that opened new areas of investigation. Any student of host-pathogen interactions will recognize Weinberg’s name and his work; he inspired generations of students and fellow researchers with his enthusiasm, zeal, and creativity.
While there will be no funeral, a memorial service will be held at a later date.
Professor Emeritus George Hegeman penned a retirement tribute to Gene Weinberg in 1992. Read the tribute to learn more about this amazing man.
The following information about Professor Emeritus Gene Weinberg was extracted from his IU Biology faculty profile.
Education
Ph.D., University of Chicago, 1950
Awards
Principal research areas
Roles of trace metals and phosphate in control of secondary metabolism.
Iron as a notable risk factor for microbial and viral infection, cancer, cardiovascular conditions, arthropathy, osteoporosis, and an extensive array of endocrinological, neurodegenerative and pulmonary diseases. The metal is toxic by catalyzing generation of hydoxyl radicals as well as by serving as a growth-essential nutrient for invading microbial and neoplasmic cells.
Development of iron chelator drugs that might be able to remove toxic iron from specific disease sites.
Refereed publications
200 (60 since retirement in 1992)
Area of continuing health education
Providing current scientific knowledge (to health care providers and consumers) of methods for prevention of iron loading and of therapy of iron mismanagement.
Introductory text from Weinberg’s 1996 Distinguished Faculty Research Lecture
Beginning in the 1960s Professor Weinberg was among the first scientists to advance the concept that humans and animals protect themselves from invasion by microbes and cancer cells by withholding iron from the invaders. For over a quarter century he has been at the forefront of his field, assimilating results from many research areas, developing a unified understanding of the data, and opening new areas of investigation. He is praised by his colleagues not only for being one of the first to recognize the relationship between iron and disease but also for nurturing its acceptance by the scientific community during its difficult early years. For years he spoke and wrote whenever possible and to whomever would listen and bore the brunt of criticism, some rather unkind, from those who disagreed.
Professor Weinberg is widely regarded as a rare scientist who is not only brilliant and energetic but who possesses the gift of boldness to see things in new ways. He is respected for his extraordinary ability to propose new models and generate ideas that push back the frontiers of knowledge and open new areas of investigation. Virtually every serious student of host-pathogen interactions recognizes Professor Weinberg’s name and has read his papers and heard him speak. He has inspired generations of students and fellow researchers with his enthusiasm, zeal, and creativity and is appreciated for his lucid contributions at symposia and international meetings.
The College of Arts