Arnis KUKSIS

Professor Emeritus University of Toronto With profound sadness, we announce the passing of Arnis Kuksis on September 2, 2024, in his 97th year, peacefully at home. Beloved husband of the late Inese (nee Jekabsons, d. 2020), with whom he shared over 74 years of friendship, love, joy, tears and hard work. Cherished and loving father of Anda (Graham), Davis (Judy), the late Lauris (Myra) and Inga (John). Proud grandfather to Eriks (Kintija), Marisa, Kirsten (Blake), Alissa (Daniel), Davis Jr. (Mackenzie), Markus (Cynthia), and Alia (Brendan); and great-grandfather to Anabella, Hailey, Madelyn, Alora, Charlie, and Penny. Generous brother to the late Zenta and Monta and their families in Latvia. Fondly remembered by the Jekabsons, Ondrich, Rozentals and Brown families, relatives, friends, students and colleagues around the world. Born in Trikata, Latvia, on December 3, 1927, he arrived alone in the US from war ravaged Europe with the support of a Lutheran World Federation Scholarship awarded from studies at Baltic University, Hamburg, Germany. He obtained his B.Sc. (1951) and M.Sc. (1953) in Agronomy from Iowa State College, Ames, Iowa. With Inese by his side, he received his Ph.D. (1956) in Biochemistry from Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario. After postdoctoral studies at the Royal Military College, Kingston, Ontario, he returned to Queen's to join the research group of Professor J.M.R. Beveridge as a Research Associate in lipid biochemistry. In 1960, Dr. Kuksis was awarded a Career Investigatorship from the Medical Research Council (MRC) of Canada (1960-1997) and was appointed Assistant Professor of Biochemistry at Queen's. In 1965, he transferred his laboratory to the Banting and Best Department of Medical Research, University of Toronto. There Dr. Kuksis advanced from Assistant to Full Professor with parallel honorary appointments in the Department of Biochemistry. From 1972 to 1997, he served as Director of MRC Regional Mass Spectrometry Facility. He was appointed Professor Emeritus in 1997. Dr. Kuksis' research experience ranged from paper chromatographic studies of nitrogen fixation by nodulating and non-nodulating soybean sister strains at Iowa State to ion exchange chromatographic analysis of DNAase hydrolysis products of DNA at Queen's. At the Royal Military College, he learned to apply thin film coatings of organic polymers to solid propellants to control their burning rates, which eventually helped him to apply high temperature coatings to packed GLC columns. In 1962, he reported the first resolution of molecular species of triglycerides of natural fats and oils by high temperature gas chromatography (GLC), which had not been achieved before. The new methodology was extended to resolution of molecular species of natural steryl esters and glycerophospholipids, which also had not been obtained previously. These techniques became widely employed routines in lipid research laboratories throughout the world. Later he combined gas and liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry for total lipid profiling and lipidomics of plasma and tissue lipids. In addition to major discoveries in high temperature GLC, Dr. Kuksis reported practical breakthrough applications of the new methodology. Among the enzymatic firsts was the demonstration of the stereospecificity of lipoprotein lipase, the isolation and determination of the correct molecular weight of a monoacylglycerol acyltransferase, and the demonstration that plasma lipoproteins are substrates for secretory PLA2 groups IIA, V and X. In parallel, Dr. Kuksis' group isolated and identified cholesteryl ester and glycerophospholipid "core aldehydes" and demonstrated their reactivity with the amino groups of peptides and proteins. More recently, Dr. Kuksis demonstrated the analytical advantages and economies of electronic storage of total lipid profiles of plasma and tissues for later mass spectrometric work-up. During the course of his career he trained and supervised the studies of a total of 30 doctoral and master's students, as well as the research of ten post-doctoral fellows. He was a mentor to many. Dr. Kuksis was an invited lecturer and visiting professor at various laboratories in USA, Canada, Germany, France, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Finland, and Latvia. Dr. Kuksis was a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, a foreign member of the Latvian Academy of Sciences and was awarded a Ph. D. honoris causa from Turku University, Finland. He authored or co-authored over 370 original articles, 100 invited reviews and book chapters, a single author book "Inositol Phospholipid Metabolism and Phosphatidyl Inositol Kinases" (Elsevier) and edited or co-edited 6 books. There was no retirement. His research and scientific publishing did not cease. He supported and actively participated in the Latvian community in Kingston and Toronto. He enjoyed his backyard oasis to the fullest, planting and pruning, but most often with book in hand, or paper and pencil, deep in thought while sitting in the sun. Our father was a stoic, modest man, a counsellor, coach, poet and role model. He will be remembered for his humour, generosity and guidance. Greatly loved, respected and admired, he will be deeply missed. A memorial service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please consider support to the Latvian Canadian Cultural Centre (Library), 4 Credit Union Drive, Toronto.