William Edward "Bill" Haast

The great legendary Bill Haast, pioneer of venom production for venom research since 1946, founder and Director of the world renowned Miami Serpentarium Laboratories, at the age of 100 has now faded into the mist of history. He was a beloved, admired and courageous humanitarian who dedicated his life to producing high quality venoms to the research community worldwide, in the hopes that by making them available in a research-grade form and in great abundance, it would stimulate the investigation into nature’s treasure chest of active biological substances and unlock the mysteries and the healing power of venoms. He has, without question, done more to advance the use of venoms in medicine and science than any other person in the world. He originated the concept of using cobra venom to cure polio, and other venoms for the treatment of arthritis and multiple sclerosis. He was the first person to self-immunize against snakebites, which enabled him to donate his life-giving blood to 21 victims of snakebites, all of whom survived. In the late seventies he was flown to Venezuela to donate blood to a small boy in the jungle bitten by a tropical coral snake. The boy survived, and Bill was made an honorary citizen of Venezuela. He produced over a pint of coral snake venom for the production of the first coral snake antivenin serum in the United States which took 3 years and 69,000 handlings of coral snakes to accomplish and was the sole supplier of venom for antivenin serum production in the U.S. for over 40 years. He has been honored with commendations and proclamations from Presidents and Mayors, and was most recently bestowed with the gold key to the county of Dade, Florida and honored with a day, April 4, 2008 dedicated to his name in Miami, his adopted city. His list of accomplishments over a lifetime is too great to be listed here. Truly one of the last great American heroes, he passed away peacefully in his home in S.W. Florida on Wednesday, evening June 15, 2011. He is survived by his beloved wife Nancy, daughters Naia Hannah, Shantih, and their mother Clarita; granddaughters Talaria, and Nancile (Pinky); grandson William E. Haast III (Willie); two great grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren. Memorial services will held at a late date. Arrangements are by Roberson Funeral Homes & Crematory Punta Gorda Chapel.