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Of all the
epidemiologists at work today, Pat seemed to be engaged on more
fronts than anyone and was quite possibly the most frequently
elected epidemiologist the profession ever had. Incredible as it
may seem, she was elected president of the Society for
Epidemiologic Research, the American College of Epidemiology, the
International Society for Environmental Epidemiology, and she was
president-elect of the International Epidemiological Association
when she died. Her warm personality and caring ways were much
appreciated by her colleagues. She always seemed to have time for
you whenever and wherever you encountered her.
Strong
Supporter
We at The
Epidemiology Monitor have always had a fond affection for Pat
because she was an enthusiastic and supportive cheerleader as long
ago as 1980 when newsletter made its first appearance and many
doubted the wisdom of launching such a venture. She never wavered
in thinking it was a good idea and deserving of support. She
served on our first advisory board and kept in touch through the
years at meetings and other events.
Candor
She had a candid
streak in her, which we found to be rare in persons of her stature
and responsibility, and would often tell it like it is, which we
appreciated as reporters. Since she was so well connected, her
candor about events behind the scenes was often very helpful to
our understanding. She always made us feel trusted that what we
were doing was good and worthwhile.
Obituaries
Below are excerpts
from the obituaries that have been published so far by the
University and one from the International Epidemiological
Association written by an epidemiology colleague Eduardo Franco.
A memorial service is being planned by the School for November 10,
2013. As a tribute to her, we are reprinting the article which
appeared in our newsletter following her remarks at the last North
American Congress of Epidemiology in Montreal.
From
Art Reingold
“No question she was one of the world’s leading researchers in
childhood leukemia, but also in cancer epidemiology,” said Arthur
Reingold, UC Berkeley professor and head of epidemiology. “It is
standard now to look at the interaction of genetic determinants
and environmental factors in disease, but Pat was one of the first
people to apply it to leukemia. Because of her work, we now have a
better understanding of a rare disease. Her loss is enormous.”
From Brenda Eskenazi
“Pat has unified people nationally and internationally in the
field of children’s health and exposure to toxins,” said Brenda
Eskenazi, UC Berkeley professor of epidemiology and another
leading expert on the environmental influences on children’s
health. “She was such a leader in her field, and such an example
of grace and intelligence, especially for the women in our
department.”
From S Katharine Hammond
“I
have never seen anyone so skillfully negotiate such incredibly
tricky situations that helped get industry buy-in for what the
researchers needed to do,” said panel member S. Katharine Hammond,
UC Berkeley professor of environmental health sciences, who was a
faculty member at the University of Massachusetts at the time. “I
was in awe watching her.”
From Lisa Barcellos
“When it came to helping her faculty colleagues, the school or the
campus, she was never one to say no,” said Lisa Barcellos, UC
Berkeley associate professor of epidemiology. “She rarely took a
sabbatical. She was finally planning to take one next year, and I
think it would’ve been her first in 10 years. She was one of a
kind: a role model and friend, with a wonderful sense of humor.
Her death is such a huge loss.”
From Richard Buffler
“While Pat’s accomplishments in the world of scientific research
and academia were enormous, her greatest accomplishment – and what
she cared about most in life – was her family,” said her husband
of 51 years, Richard Buffler. “Nothing was more important to her…She
was always
thinking ahead for their welfare… That’s who Pat was. She never
stopped helping, for them or for anyone.”
From Eduardo Franco
…In
an impressive career that spanned five decades, she left an
indelible mark as scientist, academic leader, and steward of the
epidemiology profession. The scientist in her was devoted to
understanding the role of the occupational environment as a cause
of cancer in adults and children. This dominant career theme
brought her substantial national and international recognition
because of her discoveries that led to policy interventions to
limit carcinogenic exposures in the workplace.
…Pat
was tireless in contributing her expertise and strong advocacy for
cancer control to public health agencies at any level,
irrespective of whether the concerns were local, regional,
national, or on a global scale. She did so with great mastery of
the issues, both methodological and substantive. She was an
advocate with a strong sense of pragmatism, putting science first
in the agenda, without getting side-tracked by the emotional tones
of a debate.
…At
the IEA we mourn the death of one of our most distinguished
members; a champion of our profession and a giant of academic
public health.
Links to
Obituaries
http://tinyurl.com/ol3ca4e
http://tinyurl.com/npznz85
http://tinyurl.com/pkne4oa
http://tinyurl.com/oot45ek
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