Peter Albersheim, distinguished professor emeritus at the University of Georgia (UGA), has passed away after a long battle with Parkinson's disease. He is survived by his wife Ivana, his first wife Joyce and their son James Walter, and daughters Renée and Stephi, his grandchildren Anthony Peter and Katie Lynn, and his sister Anne Gertrude. Peter received his B.S. in plant pathology in 1956 from Cornell University and his Ph.D. in biochemistry in 1959 from the California Institute of Technology. He and Dr. Alan Darvill founded the Complex Carbohydrate Research Center (CCRC) in September 1985. Dr. Albersheim spent 21 years as a professor of biochemistry in the Departments of Chemistry and Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology at the University of Colorado in Boulder, prior to coming to the University of Georgia. Dr. Darvill and Dr. Albersheim co-directed the CCRC as well as their combined research teams. Peter Albersheim was also co-director of the Department of Energy-funded Center for Plant and Microbial Complex Carbohydrates. From 1990 to 2002, he was director of the National Institutes of Health-supported Resource Center for Biomedical Complex Carbohydrates. Dr. Albersheim was the 1973 recipient of the Charles A. Shull award of the American Society of Plant Physiologists and in 1984 of the Kenneth A. Spencer award of the American Chemical Society. He was a frequently invited speaker to special symposia, meetings of scientific societies, and to civic, commercial, and academic organizations in the U.S and around the world. There will be a celebration of his life for family and friends which will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider a donation to The Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research at www.michaeljfox.org Lord and Stephens, East is in charge of arrangements. www.lordandstephens.com

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Published by The Daily Camera on Jul. 26, 2017.

Memories and Condolences
for Peter Albersheim

Sponsored by Lord & Stephens Funeral Home - East Lord & Stephens Funeral Home - Athens.

12 Entries

Jim Carton

April 19, 2019

I appologize for the lapse in sending some of my memories of my youth with Peter. Pete and I were raised in Interlaken NJ. His house and my house have unchanged. He was my best friend and our adventures together have remained a lasting part of my life. I remember..... the furnace break down at our grammar school while in the 4th grade which allowed Pete and me to take a bus to shark river, rent a row boat and fish for flounders. No life jackets, we each pulled an oar. While in the 4th grade Pete and I got 25cents weekly from our parents and walked down town for lunch, a hamburger, coke and a 5cent tip. I remember our trapping muskrats in Deal Lake when we tended our traps before school and then skinned dried and stretched the pelts before we sold them. I remember Pete having fo be home every day at 4 for his clarinet lessons. He was not very good. I remember his summer as an intern at Zadanciwiks farm in Howell NJ in 1952. Pete was the impetus for or trips. Most memorable was the 1956 trip through Canada and our west , during which he bested me in fly fishing. We camped out for all but one week.I remember his meeting Joyce , I believe, at the resort in Wyoming. These our just some of my many memories of he who had a great influence on my life. Jim Carton

Peter Albersheim, Alan Darvill, Keith Roberts, Ron Sederoff and Andrew Staehilin author photo for the cover of Plant Cell Walls

Keith Roberts

August 3, 2017

Peter in Clayton Georgia at one of our first cell wall book meetings

Keith Roberts

August 3, 2017

Carbohydrate chemistry is not the most fashionable area of contemporary science, but Pugnacious Peter added that necessary sense of danger, excitement and flair to create accolytes around the world. Our work together on the Plant Cell Walls book, although extended in gestation rather longer than was probably required, took place in a memorable sequence of intense interludes in Georgia, weeks that enriched my life in many ways. Warm hearted, macho, intelligent and a loyal friend, he will certainly be missed.

Keith Roberts

Tom Harrington

August 2, 2017

Dr. Albersheim was a very tolerant parent for allowing the poker games hosted by his son Jim. His friendly acquiescence of our gatherings allowed us to engage in "male bonding" as we matured through our teenage years.....though perhaps not as quickly as we should have. Peter was such a modest man that I had no idea of his intellectual and academic accomplishments when he chatted with us knuckleheads. My sympathy to Jim and the rest of Peter's family. May Peter rest in peace and with admiration in our memories.

Robert Stack and Gail McLean

August 1, 2017

Dr. Albersheim was a force of nature in microbial and plant cell wall biochemistry, and we wanted to express our sincerest thanks for his many contributions to the field. Our sincerest condolences to his family, friends, and colleagues.

Chris Doyle

July 30, 2017

My first semester at CU in 1972 I took the beginning MCDB course taught by Dr. Albersheim, Abe Flexer, David McIntosh, and Mark Dubin. It was the best and most important course I ever took. As a team they presented cutting edge science most effectively. Still today I know half a dozen folks who took the course with me. We all agree it was quality education.

July 27, 2017

Garland Science, the publisher of Plant Cell Walls, express our sincere sympathy to Peter's family and colleagues at CCRC. Peter was an exceptional author--making sure the book was accurate, authoritative, and clearly written.
Denise Schanck

July 26, 2017

Marie and I wish to express our deepest sympphy in the passing of our good friend and neighbor

Barbara Lynch

July 26, 2017

Thinking of your family with my deepest sympathy for your loss of an amazing person.

Lord & Stephens Funeral Homes East Chapel

July 24, 2017

Offering our deepest condolences during this difficult time.

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