Francis Julian White
Francis J. White, PhD, professor and former Chair of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology in the Chicago Medical School, passed away Nov. 7, 2006, surrounded by his loving family and friends at the time of his death.
White was born in Columbia, SC in 1952. He received his baccalaureate in psychology (honors program), his masters in experimental psychology and his doctorate in psychopharmacology from the University of South Carolina. His postdoctoral training was in pharmacology at the St. Louis University School of Medicine with Rex Y. Wang, and White stayed at the university as Research Assistant Professor until 1984. He joined the faculty at the University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign) in 1984, in psychology and then in pharmacology, receiving tenure in 1987. In 1987, White moved to the Wayne State University School of Medicine in psychiatry and pharmacology and was promoted to professor in 1992. Concurrently he was director of the Neuropsychopharmacology Laboratory at the Lafayette Clinic (Detroit, MI). In 1992, White joined the department of neuroscience at the University of Health Sciences/The Chicago Medical School as professor. Following a national search, White was chosen to lead the department of cellular and molecular pharmacology in 1998.
White was internationally known for his cutting-edge work in drug addiction. Among many other honors, he received the prestigious MERIT award (Method to Extend Research in Time) from the National Institute of Drug Abuse and was funded by that Institute for over two decades. White's work has been published in over 100 peer-reviewed manuscripts of the highest caliber. He served as Senior Editor of the Journal of Neuroscience, the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience, and during 1995-1996 was President of the Chicago Chapter of Neuroscience. White was a member of the NIDA Council on Medications Development (1996-98). He was a gifted teacher and speaker, who presented numerous keynote speeches on addiction to scientists and the lay public over his 25 year career. He trained many graduate students and postdoctoral fellows who carry on his tradition of excellence in their own research programs.
As a tribute to his mentoring legacy, the Frank White Memorial Fund has been established. For details, visit www.rosalindfranklin.edu/cms/Pharmacology/Marinelli/Frank_files/page0005.htm
In addition to his professional successes, White was recognized for his rich southern drawl, his terrific golf game, love of fantasy league baseball, Tuscany, cooking and rock and roll music. He is survived by his daughters Lucy and Jessie, his sister and 2 brothers, his mother and grandmother and his former wife and colleague, Marina E. Wolf.
