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WILFRID RALL Obituary
Wilfrid studied Physics at Yale University and worked on the Manhattan Project in Chicago, IL during WWII. He was one of the scientists who signed the Szilard petition requesting that the atomic bomb be used in a deterrent demonstration and not be dropped on an inhabited target. Wil went on to study biophysics at the University of Chicago and received a Ph.D. in Physiology from the University of New Zealand.
Wil spent most of his career at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland until his retirement in 1994. He was a pioneer in the field of computational neuroscience. His work in establishing the integrative functions of neuronal dendrites provided a foundation for neurobiology in general and computational neuroscience in particular.* Over his long life, Wil enjoyed watching the experimental confirmation of much of his theoretical research, and the development of further research and knowledge based upon it.
Wil's life was enriched by a love of nature, art and music. He was a hiker and a sculptor. He played clarinet in his youth and enjoyed music throughout his life. He loved his view of the Blue Ridge mountains from his retirement home in Wintergreen, VA. He supported many organizations focused on the preservation of nature, protection of the unfortunate and promotion of world peace.
He is survived by his beloved wife, Mary Ellen Condon-Rall; two daughters, Sara Rall of Sharpsburg, MD and Madelyn Rall Badger of Rockville, MD; four grandchildren, Megan Kaetzel of Keedysville, MD, Andrew Badger, Stuart Badger and Charlotte Badger, all of Rockville, MD; and two great-grandchildren, Weston and Camille Kaetzel.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Ava Lou Rall and his brother, Waldo Rall.
A celebration of Wil's life will be held at a future date.
Some favorite charitable organizations: Council for a Livable World https://livableworld.org The Nature Foundation at Wintergreen www.twnf.org Wintergreen Performing Arts www.wintergreenperformingarts.org
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for WILFRID RALL
Sponsored by Wilfrid's Family.
Terry Sejnowski
April 17, 2020
Thank you, Wil, for showing us how to think about electrical signals in dendrites; how to quantify the incredible complexity of these treelike structures; how to use insights from models to guide the interpretation of experiments; and how to do all of this with aplomb and good humor. You were our hero.
Idan Segev
April 4, 2020
This last year, two groundbreaking papers demonstrate electrical recording from human dendrites showing unique proprieties. The analysis of these impressive results are based on Wil Ralls 1964 compartmental modeling approach. His legacy continues to shine and impact our understanding of ourselves. What a contribution!!
Idan Segev
April 4, 2019
For me it is easy to remember Will Rall as I think of dendrites essentially every day and, when doing so, I am well aware that I "understand" neurons and their dendrites because of Will Rall. Then my own dendrites and synapses invoke other memories of his warm and human attitude - his attentive listening to me, his open mind to the human condition - his artistic breadth and depth. To his being such rare a person - that I miss him a lot. And I am proud that, with John Rinzel, Gordon Shepherd and Mike Hausser, we recently wrote a scientific obituary for Will Rall in Neuron - summarising his spectacular insights and achievement - https://www.cell.com/neuron/pdf/S0896-6273(18)30730-X.pdf
Roman R. Poznanski
October 12, 2018
Wilfrid Rall was my external Ph.D. examiner. When I met him at the N.I.H. in 1992 he was very enthusiastic about my work in extending his tapering cable modelling efforts with Steve Goldstein. He will be sadly missed by the theoretical neuroscience fraternity worldwide.
Wil Rall and Gordon Shepherd in San Antonio in 2005
Jim Bower
July 10, 2018
50 years ago, Will Rall and Gordon Shepherd published a paper on the theoretical reconstruction of field potentials and dendro-dendritive interactions in the olfactory bulb which predicted a type of synapse not yet observed experimentally in the mammalian brain. The prediction was based on an approach Rall invented to modeling neuronal dendrites that remains today at the basis of almost all efforts to build biologically realistic models of neurons. This work was seminal and fundamental, representing a level of collaboration between a theorist and an experimentalist that is still rare today. I believe that the appreciation of the scientific contributions of this humble, gracious, modest but brilliant scientist will only grow with time. It was an honor to have known him. His influence was profound.
Bill Holmes
May 22, 2018
Wil was a terrific mentor and scientist and a most kind individual, generous with his time. His intuition was legendary. He greatly influenced my career and I feel most fortunate to have worked with him. He will be missed.
Robert Burke
April 19, 2018
Those of us who had the privilege of knowing and working with him regarded Wil as more than a great scientist who revolutionized our field. He was a warm human being, universally respected by everyone with whom he came in contact. For me personally, Wil was a true friend and a major influence on my scientific career from the very beginning.
Wil Rall talking to Valentino Braitenberg at the 1997 CNS Conference
April 17, 2018
David Lipman
April 17, 2018
Wil was a curious, gentle, and considerate man. As a young scientist, I worked in the same overall branch at NIH: Wil was the model of what a scientist should be - modest, thoughtful, and totally absorbed by his quest to understand his piece of nature.
Bard Ermentrout
April 17, 2018
Wil was a great guy. My early papers with John Rinzel on Type I excitability were partially inspired by a simple model that Wil developed in the late 70's. He will be greatly missed
Peter Benjamin
April 15, 2018
Wil was a brilliant man and a force of nature. And he loved nature and being outdoors. He was also a caring person with empathy and thoughtfulness. He will be missed as a person as well as a scientist.
Terry Sejnowski
April 15, 2018
I am teaching undergraduates today the groundbreaking insights that originated from Wil's early studies of dendrites, which is as relevant today as it was when he discovered them.
John Rinzel
April 14, 2018
Wil laid foundations in neuroscience and blazed frontiers for computational neuroscience. He was a powerful intellectual, gentle and open-minded. Wil had extraordinary biophysical intuition and skill for developing and gleaning insights from idealized models - so inspiring. I deeply appreciate having had Wil as a mentor, colleague and dear friend for five decades.
Ad Aertsen
April 12, 2018
My sincere condolences to the family. Wilfrid Rall was truly one of the most inspiring founding fathers of theoretical neuroscience. My deepest respect - RIP.
Wilfrid Rall
April 11, 2018
Dan Johnston
April 11, 2018
Will had an enormous influence on my career and an even greater influence on the field of neuroscience. He left a tremendous legacy.
Nelson Spruston
April 11, 2018
Wil Rall's work inspired me when I began as a graduate student in neuroscience 30+ years ago and it has influenced everything I have done since. His contributions to neuroscience are foundational and lasting.
Idan Segev
April 11, 2018
Wil Rall was my one-of-its-king mentor - totally smart and very deep, a warm and modest person and inspirational. He inspired my whole work and much beyond. I feel very lucky to have met him - his death is a great personal loss for me and for Science at large.
April 10, 2018
My condolences to the family. May the peace of God and the fond memories you cherish comfort and sustain you in your time of need.
-RM
Adonis Moschovakis
April 10, 2018
We miss you and will remember you for as long as we live.
Alain Destexhe
April 10, 2018
A fantastic source of inspiration for all of us neuroscientists.
Dieter Jaeger
April 10, 2018
Will was indeed the true founder of the field of neuronal modeling. The deepest of respect and admiration.
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