Dr. Ann Linnea Sandberg

1938 - 2009

Dr. Ann Linnea Sandberg, 71, formerly of Potomac, Md., joined her Lord on Dec. 31, 2009, at Seeds of Love Care in Livingston.

Cremation has taken place at Franzen-Davis Crematory. A graveside service and burial will be scheduled for a later date.

Ann was born on Aug. 4, 1938, in Denver, Colo., the daughter of Ernest Helsing Sandberg and Anna Elvira (Jackson)Sandberg. The family later settled in Bozeman, where Ann attended school and graduated from Montana State College with a B.S. in Chemistry. She received her Ph.D. in pharmacology from the University of Chicago in 1964. She was a postdoctoral fellow at Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston from 1964 to 1968. From there, she became a research investigator for the New York City Health Department with a joint appointment as a research assistant professor at New York University School of Medicine.

In 1972 Ann became chief of the Humoral Immunity Section of the Laboratory of Microbiology and Immunology and then chief of the microbial receptors and pathogenesis section of the Laboratory of Microbial Ecology at the National Institute of Dental Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md. Her research focused on inflammation and mechanisms of host defense with special relevance to autoimmune diseases, and she was an international authority in the field of complement activation and its role in inflammatory diseases. Her contributions to the biomedical literature most recently focused on microbial adhesion. She was the author of numerous research publications, review articles and book chapters, as well as an invited speaker at national and international scientific meetings. Her publications are widely cited and she was highly respected by her peers and colleagues. She was an exceptional mentor and supported the successful career development of numerous postdoctoral fellows and students.

After an illustrious 20-year career in the NIH intramural program, she joined the NIDCR extramural program when she was named chief of the neoplastic diseases branch, was subsequently promoted to lead the Division of Basic and Translational Sciences and became the director of the then newly formed Center for Integrative Craniofacial Research.

Ann received recognition, honors and awards for her work and support of others, including the Montana State University Centennial Alumnae Award, which recognizes 100 outstanding alumnae over 100 years, the NIH Merit Award, the NIH Special Achievement Award and the NIH Special Act Award. She was a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the International Association for Dental Research, as well as other professional societies. She retired from the National Institutes of Health in 2005.

Ann loved tending to her floral garden and the birds which shared her sacred space. After years of battling pesky squirrels she relinquished to their tenancy and welcomed the critters to her garden. She was an avid reader and an accomplished pianist. She was an active member of Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Bethesda and thoroughly enjoyed her Bible study discussion groups. She had a love of travel to all places foreign and domestic, including visiting national parks and historic sites, and her beloved cabin on Flathead Lake in Montana.

She was preceded in death by her parents; and her brother, Ernest Andrew Sandberg.

She is survived by her four nieces: Beverly Sandberg (Rudy Greger), Naomi Sandberg, Martha Wheeler (Scott Wheeler), and Sarah Sandberg (Frank Horiel); her sister-in-law, Jean Sandberg; and five grand-nephews.

Ann was blessed to have so many dear friends, and she will be greatly missed.

If desired, memorial donations may be directed to the MSU Foundation, P.O. Box 172750, Bozeman, MT 59717; to Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 7730 Bradley Blvd., Bethesda, MD 20817; or to the humane society of the donor's choice.