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Franz HALBERG Obituary

On Sunday June 9, 2013, a maverick, great scientist, and exceptional human being left us. Franz Halberg's passing shy of his 94th birthday leaves a void that cannot be filled. He will be remembered for founding the fields of chronobiology, chronomics and chronobioethics. His accomplishments are summarized in his over 3,000 scientific publications, in cooperation with colleagues from around the world. He coined the term circadian, after documenting that biologic rhythms tip the scale between health and disease and even between life and death. Many around the world call him their mentor and turned to him for advice, from study design and data analysis to the interpretation of results in the time dimension. His work earned him numerous awards, apart from holding professorships in Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Physiology, Biology, Bioengineering and Oral Medicine at the University of Minnesota, he received honorary doctorates from the University of Montpellier (France), Ferrara (Italy), Tyumen (Siberia), Brno (Czech Republic), L'Aquila (Italy), and most recently People's Friendship University of Russia (Moscow, Russia). Born on July 5, 1919 in Romania, Franz Halberg was brought by the US government from post-war Austria to Harvard Medical School, where he held a World Health Organization fellowship. In 1949, he moved to the University of Minnesota, which saw his breakthrough experiments that led to the important discovery of circadian (about 24-hour) rhythms, and then built in cycles of many other lengths, such as weekly, monthly, yearly, and longer solar and other cycles. He discovered that these cycles are innate and can be manipulated by environmental synchronizers. He went on to document their importance in clinical medicine, concentrating on preventive cardiology and individually timed cardiology and cancer treatment. At 93 years of age and still active 7 days a week in the Halberg Chronobiology Center at the University of Minnesota, he is the last recipient of a lifetime career award from the National Institutes of Health. He was a trail blazer who leaves a remarkable legacy. A Private Memorial Service will be held. Memorials are preferred to the Halberg Center for Chronobiology, University of Minnesota Foundation, PO Box 860266, Minneapolis MN 55486-0226. Arr. O'HALLORAN AND MURPHY FUNERAL HOME. 651-698-0796


To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Pioneer Press on Jun. 16, 2013.

Memories and Condolences
for Franz HALBERG

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Karen (Reeker) Berglund

June 10, 2022

You will alway be in our family´s heart.

June 30, 2013

Innovative, strong and loyal. Dr. Halberg was a caring scientist.
Ben Bornsztein

Bev Backer

June 21, 2013

I worked with Dr. Halberg and appreciated what a gentle and caring man he was. He will be missed. God bless.

Faithe Thomas

June 19, 2013

Our family has benefitted tremendously from the work of this tireless man! We are grateful for his interest in our odd circadian problem and will continue to use the knowledge he passed on to us In the hope of helping others. Franz will be missed indeed.

Sheila Stuart

June 18, 2013

I had the honor of hosting Dr. Halberg and Mr. Bakken's breakfast and lunch meetings at the Hilton in Shoreview for 15 years or so. I feel very blessed to have had the opportunity to serve such a wonderful and caring man.
Heaven is lucky to have you Dr. Halberg! God bless.

Karen Berglund (Reeker)

June 17, 2013

Dr. Halberg was always wonderful to our family. He was my mom's boss for several years at the U of M.
When I was a child, he taught me how to water-ski and took us sailing on the lake behind his home.
We took care of the Halberg's little Maltese while they were on one of their vacations. I missed that little dog so much after they came back for it, that my mom had to replace it with a little stuffed dog that looked like him.
When I last saw him at my niece's graduation party he told me that the reason he started his research in breast cancer was in honor of my mom.
That meant so much to me.
The Halberg family will always remain in my heart.
I tried emailing Dr. Halberg a couple weeks ago, as we communicated once in awhile. Now I understand why my email wouldn't be delivered.
I am saddened to hear the news of his passing, and send my love to the Halberg family.

June 17, 2013

My scientific and human life has been marked by your teaching. Pietro

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O'Halloran & Murphy Funeral and Cremation Services - St. Paul

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