Dr. Albert Leslie Babb

1925 - 2014

Dr. Albert Leslie Babb

Albert L. Babb, PhD. passed away peacefully in his Adult Family Home, Serene Gardens in Kenmore, WA on October 22, 2014. He was born in Vancouver BC on November 7, 1925 to Clarence Babb and Mildred (Gutteridge) Babb. He attended the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, earning a Bachelor's of Applied Science in Chemical Engineering in 1948. He went on to be a professor at the University of Washington in the Nuclear Engineering program from 1952 and later as Professor Emeritus until his retirement in 1992 and served as Chair in that department. Dr. Babb is most well known for his work in the development of the in home dialysis machine and was nominated for the Nobel Prize related to those efforts in 1977. He is the only University of Washington faculty member elected to both the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) and the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences. His election to the NAE in 1972 was in recognition of his pioneering work in the development and commercialization of artificial kidney systems and his applications of nuclear energy to medicine. He sat for a period of time on the Atomic Energy Commission and was central in the planning and construction of The Alaska Oil Pipeline. He wrote over 200 scientific articles and was a mentor to numerous PhD candidates.

Dr. Babb was married to Marion Babb who predeceased him and later married and divorced Marguerite Babb. He is survived by three children, sons Gene and Philip and daughter Chris. He will be remembered by his many colleagues and friends including Dr. Alv J. Skarbovik of Norway who maintained close contact with Dr. Babb until his passing. He will be laid to rest next to his deceased wife Marion at Lake View Cemetery in Seattle WA.