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In Memoriam

Rowland Hallowell Davis

Professor Emeritus
Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry (served 1975 – 2005)

For over three decades, Professor Davis was a beloved and well-respected faculty member of the Biological Sciences School and a leading figure in the field of microbial genetics. Following his retirement in 2005, Professor Davis continued to serve the University of California as a member and chair of the UC Merced Academic Senate’s CAP until 2008.

Professor Davis received his Ph.D. from Harvard in 1958, held a National Science Foundation fellowship at the California Institute of Technology from 1958 to 1960, and rose to full professor while at the University of Michigan from 1960 to 1975. Professor Davis came to UC Irvine and the School of Biological Sciences in 1975, when he joined the Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry. During his tenure, Professor Davis served as the Chair of the Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry from 1977-1979, was named a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science as well as the American Academy of Microbiology, and received the Excellence in Teaching Award in Biological Sciences at UC Irvine.

He became a central figure in the Neurospora and fungal genetics scientific communities as a result of his fundamental contributions to the understanding of nutrient metabolism in cells. He showed that the metabolism of nutrients could be regulated by separating pathways that generate and consume nutrients into different compartments of the cell. This research relied on studies of the fungus Neurospora crassa, a key model system for early molecular biology that allowed him to determine the role that fungi, yeast, and bacteria played in genetic recombination and mutation. Davis published over a hundred articles in the course of his research, as well as three books: The Gist of Genetics, Neurospora: Contributions of a Model Organism published by Oxford University Press in 2000, and The Microbial Models of Molecular Biology also published by Oxford in 2003.

Professor Davis is survived by his wife, Margot Norris, his step-mother Nancy Gilson Davis, nephews Daniel Hessey and Steven Davis, and nieces Susan Hessey and Brooke Graves.

Keith Evans Justice

Professor Emeritus
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (served 1965 – 1987)

Professor Keith Evans Justice joined the School of Biological Sciences in 1965 as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. Professor Justice served as Acting Department Chair from 1983-84 and during his tenure at UCI, Professor Justice created a small radio collar device to support his research into the feeding behavior of woodrats, published extensively in the areas of small mammalian biology and behavior, as well as computer modeling and biological research.

In addition to his research, Professor Justice provided mentorship and training to numerous graduate and undergraduate students in the field of ecology and evolutionary biology.

Professor Justice retired from UCI in 1987. Following retirement, he made his home in Arizona where he was a committed volunteer with The Nature Conservancy (White Mountain Chapter) and served on the Arizona State Parks board.

Patrick L. Healey

Professor Emeritus
Department of Developmental and Cell Biology (served 1966 – 1994)

Professor Patrick L. Healey joined the faculty of the School of Biological Sciences in 1966 as an Assistant Professor of Organismic Biology (now, Developmental and Cell Biology). Professor Healey served the Biological Sciences School as Acting Dean on two occasions in 1980 and 1982 as well as Department Chair from 1982-83 and had numerous professional and administrative roles within the university. Professor Healey’s research focused on plant biology and he published many articles in the areas of development and morphology of plants.

In addition to teaching and research, Professor Healey served as the director of Instructional Development Services to promote quality teaching through training and consultation with faculty and graduate teaching assistants. Professor Healey cared professionally and personally for the education of UCI students and developed unique techniques for actively engaging students in learning about biological sciences.

Following his retirement from UCI in 1994, Professor Healey started his second professional career as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, opening his own practice in Irvine and specializing in individual and couples counseling.

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