Ronald Winfield Estabrook's Obituary
Renown Biochemistry Researcher Dies Estabrook, Ronald Winfield.(Ron), Ph.D, D.Sc., M.D. (honoris causa), age 87, Ashbel Smith Professor Emeritus of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas died August 5, 2013, in Dallas, Texas from congestive heart failure. Dr. Estabrook was a world-renowned biochemist with a special knowledge of enzymatic reactions related to toxicology and steroid hormone biosynthesis. Born in Albany, New York on January 3, 1926 to Lillian Florence (Childs) and George Arthur Estabrook, he was the third of three sons. He attended public schools in Albany and graduated from Albany High School in 1943. In July 1943, he joined the U.S. Navy and attended officer training schools at Princeton University and Notre Dame University; he was appointed the rank of Ensign on March 1945. Following service on a sub-chaser destroyer escort in the Keys of southern Florida, he was assigned as a line and gunnery officer on a minesweeper and participated in the Allied occupation of Okinawa and Japan. After receiving his undergraduate degree from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1950, Ron did his graduate training in biochemistry at the University of Rochester, Rochester, NY. Under the supervision of Elmer Stotz, he completing a dissertation titled “Studies on the Cytochromes in Heart Muscle Extracts” (Ph.D. 1954). He then accepted a post-doctoral position in biophysics to work with Britton Chance at the Johnson Research Foundation, University of Pennsylvania. After three years of research on the cytochromes of mitochondria, he then studied at the Molteno Institute, Cambridge University in England with David Kielin (the discoverer of cytochromes). In 1959, Dr. Estabrook joined the faculty of the School of Medicine of the University of Pennsylvania where he advanced to the rank of Professor of Physical Biochemistry. In the early 1960’s, Dr. Estabrook, together with Drs. David Cooper and Otto Rosenthal of the Department of Surgery of the University of Pennsylvania, carried out groundbreaking studies that resulted in the discovery of the enzymatic (functional) properties of a unique hemoprotein, now known as cytochrome P450. This collaborative study led to the initial characterization of the role of P450s in the metabolism of steroids and drugs. Today, we recognize the importance to biology, in particular toxicology and environmental health, of this group of oxygenating enzymes (P450s) and the seminal role the early findings by Cooper, Rosenthal, and Estabrook have made to medicine. In 1968, Ron moved to Dallas, Texas to serve as Virginia Lazenby O’Hara Professor of Biochemistry and Chairman of the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School. In his 14-year tenure as Chairman of the Biochemistry Department, he built a world- recognized center of biochemical research, in particular research related to the cytochrome P450s. Dr. Estabrook also served as the first Dean of the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at the Dallas campus of the University of Texas. In 1982, Dr. Estabrook returned to the laboratory bench where he applied the techniques of molecular biology to the study of the enzymatic properties of different P450s expressed in different types of cells. Ron and his colleagues in Dallas focused on the potential commercial application of P450 enzymes to major problems of chemical synthesis, drug discovery and the biomodification of organic systems. In 1988 he and colleagues founded the company Oxygene for the commercial applications of P450s. In 1990, Dr. Estabrook was named to the Cecil and Ida Green Chair in the Biomedical Sciences at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. Later, in 1997, Ron was appointed Acting Director of the Cecil and Ida Green Center for Reproductive Biology. In 2006, at the age of 80 years, Dr. Estabrook retired and was named the University of Texas System Ashbel Smith Emeritus Professor of Biochemistry. In 2008, Southwestern Medical School introduced a new concept in medical education: six Colleges for the medical education of undergraduate medical students. Dr. Estabrook was honored by the naming of one of these Colleges as “Estabrook College.” Dr. Estabrook coauthored over 320 publications during his career, including the editing of 16 books. He has received many honors including election to the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences in 1974 and the National Academy of Sciences (Section 21, Biochemistry) in 1979. In addition, he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Medicine from the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden in 1981 and a Doctor of Science from the University of Rochester also in 1981. He served on numerous national and international advisory committees including the Governing Board of the National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences and the Council of the Institute of Medicine of the NAS. Most recently, he was selected as the founding Treasurer of the newly formed Academy of Medicine, Science and Engineering of Texas. Dr. Estabrook is survived by his wife of 66 years, June Elizabeth Templeton Estabrook, currently of Dallas, TX; daughters, Linda Ann Estabrook Gilbert of Charlotte, NC; Laura Elizabeth Estabrook Verinder of Schertz, TX; Jill Kathleen Estabrook Wisehart of Denver, CO; and son David Edward Estabrook of Dallas, TX. Ron and June have seven grandchildren, Lisa Verinder Mateja, Amy Verinder Izard, Kathleen Verinder Byrne; Nina Gilbert and Anna Gilbert; Austin Cole Estabrook and Madison Estabrook. In addition they have five great grandchildren, Sophie and Henry Mateja, Emily and Piper Izard, and Abigail Byrne. Also included in the loving family are three sons-in-law, three grandsons-in-law and an extended international scientific family. Ron had a wide range of interests and hobbies during his lifetime, including photography, genealogy, stamp collecting, and traveling. But highest attention went to his family and the six granddaughters, one grandson, and five great grandchildren whom he shared with his wife, June. There will be a private family internment. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to UT Southwestern Medical Center, P. O. Box 910888, Dallas, TX 75391-0888 or online at www.utsouthwestern.edu/donatenow to support education and research in memory of Dr. Estabrook.
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