Dr. Christopher C. Widnell

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Trinity College University of Chicago

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Christopher Widnell Obituary

Dr. Christopher C. Widnell Hilton Head, South Carolina - Dr. Christopher C. Widnell, 74, died Tuesday, January 20 at the Hilton Head Hospital, following the rupture of a common iliac artery aneurysm. Dr. Widnell is survived by his wife of 49 years, Anne Widnell, his daughter Dr. Katherine L. Widnell, his son, Nicholas A. Widnell and three grandchildren. The son of Captain Barrington Widnell and Moira Widnell, Dr. Widnell was born in London and grew up in England, where he attended Charterhouse boarding school. He graduated from Trinity College, Cambridge University in 1962 and obtained a Ph.D. in biochemistry from London University in 1965. He then moved to the United States to do post-graduate work at the University of Chicago and The Rockefeller University. In 1969, Dr. Widnell accepted a position on faculty at the University of Pittsburgh Medical School and, with the exception of a year-long sabbatical at the International Institute of Cellular and Molecular Pathology in Brussels, Belgium, he spent the next 30 years living, researching, and teaching in Pittsburgh. He was named full professor in 1977 and held the title Professor of Cell Biology and Physiology when he left the University. In 1998, he accepted the position of Scientific Research Director at the American Cancer Society and moved to Atlanta. He retired from the ACS in 2008 and moved to Hilton Head, South Carolina. In his retirement, he continued to play an active role in fundraising for the ACS, established a wine consulting business, and served on the boards of Community Services Associates, Inc. and the Association of Sea Pines Plantation Property Owners. Dr. Widnell was an avid sailor, wine enthusiast, and cook. He was a member of the Yacht Club of Hilton Head Island. He will be fondly remembered by his students for enthusiastic Shakespeare and Chaucer quotations to illustrate points in cell biology. His friends and family cherish the memories of his wit, sense of humor and the logic with which he resolved conflicts. He lived life to the full. The family will hold a private funeral and memorial service and ask that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the American Cancer Society extramural research program. Dr. Widnell had a deep commitment to funding innovative basic science that might lead to novel cancer treatments. For those who wish to make a donation, please clearly reference "In Memory of Dr. Christopher Widnell - Research Fund" on any check and mail to: American Cancer Society, ATTN: Sandy Kimball -250 Williams Street, Atlanta, GA 30303. Donations can also be made online at https://donate.cancer.org/index. In the section "Gift Type", gifts can be designated "In Memory of Dr. Widnell"). The Island Funeral Home and Crematory www.theislandfuneralhome.com

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Published by The Island Packet from Feb. 3 to Mar. 3, 2015.

Memories and Condolences
for Christopher Widnell

3 Entries

Geoffrey Knight

February 11, 2015

Chris and I were good friends at Cambridge University in 1961&2. We shared digs together at 57 Chesterton Road. Chris had the top flat with a small kitchen, and I shared a large room on the ground floor. I discovered he was an accomplished cook and had an excellent nose for good French wines. From time to time he would cook a wonderful meal for his friends and indulge in educating us about wines. It was a stroke of good luck that he got appointed to be the Food and Wine Editor of ‘Varsity', the University weekly paper. It was widely read by the 50,000 university students and by the Town (the other inhabitants of the city of Cambridge!).
Before long he tumbled on to a grand scheme of writing to all the good restaurants in Cambridge, and those within thirty miles from the center, informing the proprietors that they had been specially selected for a review in Varsity, and he was seeking a table for two to try their cuisine and cellar, free of charge of course. For this, they were promised a review. The results were a cornucopia of indulgence in good cuisine and wines for the rest of our university days that cost him and a select group of his friends nothing.

During this time we spent two summer vacations together in the resort town of Juan-les-Pins
on the French Mediterranean riviera. We found an inexpensive basement apartment near the sea and town center at this smart resort. We were so penniless that we had to resort to eating horse meat. With his culinary skills, Chris found a way of cooking great horsemeat stews which we lived on for a month or so.

On the return journey Chris drove his Austin Mini on carefully chosen routes up the Rhone Valley and Bergundy stopping at small vineyards and tasting their wines. He spoke French well and wrote French perfectly. He sent letters in French to well known ‘negotiants' on the way back asking for wine tastings. (They purchase wine from small vineyards and blend and distribute the wines.) We had a memorable day with a very well known negotiant in Baune from whom he had obtained an invitation. They were surprised to find two scruffy students in corduroys, as they were expecting two important wine buyers from England. We had a tour of the cellars and the head cellerman gave Chris glasses of four different wines, and to the cellerman's amazement, Chris told him correctly which were the bad wines and which were the good wines. He then brought out some vintage wines and Chris again told him correctly the dates of the vintages. As a consequence we were invited to a great lunch with some of the directors, and they produced a fantastic vintage Beaune wine from the early 1940's.

We shared a love for classical music. Our hero at the time was Otto Klemperer who conducted the London Symphony and the Philharmonia orchestras. We would take the train to London from Cambridge in the afternoon , returning that evening. We attended the classic rendering of Wagner's Ring series conducted by Klemperer at Convent Garden Operahouse seated right up” in the Gods”.

After Cambridge, we shared a flat in Camden Town in London for over a year. I had started my career in the Law, and Chris was doing his PHd at the Medical Research Center. Again we had a great time, lots of parties , good eating as he was the chef, and great culture. We then parted company as he took off for the USA where he remained for the rest of his life and I remained until recently, in England. We remained good friends and saw each other occasionally over the years. Of recent times he came once to Portland, Oregon and he spent an enjoyable day visiting the wineries in the Willamett Valley. He was a tremendous influence on my love for good food, good opera, and the joie de vivre. I feel so sad on his sudden passing, and I offer my sincere condolences to Anne and his children Katherine and Nicholas and his grandchildren.
Geoffrey Knight

Martha Cussler

February 4, 2015

I am so sorry to hear of Christopher's death...Sarah told me. I remember him fondly as he drove me to MacGee Hospital where I delivered my son, Jason, five weeks early. Since Chris was also a preemie, his words and presence reassured me.

I am sure over the years he touched the lives of many people, funny, kind, smart and energetic. He will be missed.

Paul Connelly

February 3, 2015

Sincere condolences as Dr. Widnell will be missed. I recall him putting up with our grade school antics with much patience and humor. Great person, great mind, great role model...

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