Heinrich Rinderknecht

RINDERKNECHT, Heinrich, PhD.
Heinrich Rinderknecht, PhD. passed away of natural causes on April 25, 2005 at Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara. Born in Zurich, Switzerland on January 21, 1913, he now joins his wife of 67 years, Peggy Wark of Shoeburyness, England, who passed on January 2, 2005. Heinrich Rinderknecht received his Masters of Science in 1936 from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology. In 1939, he obtained a PhD. in Biochemistry from the University of London. He performed fellowships at Yale University and New York University School of Medicine (1946-47), as well as at Cal Tech (1949-54). He also served as a Senior Research Fellow at Cal Tech from 1962-64. From 1964-70, he was a Professor of Biochemistry & Medicine at USC. From 1971-87, he was a Professor of Medicine at UCLA Medical School, as well as Chief of Medical Biochemistry at the VA Medical Center in Sepulveda. In addition to his many academic appointments, Heinrich Rinderknecht had a distinguished career as an Industrial Research Chemist, and created the first commercial synthesis of Demerol. From 1939-55, he performed research in the fields of analgesia, anesthetics, antibacterials, antihistamines and tetrahydrocannabiol derivatives. In addition to Demerol, he developed Carbocaine, and held 24 patents. Shortly after moving to California in 1949, he developed the first commercially available oven cleaner, Oven-New, at the urging of his wife, Peggy. During his academic career, Heinrich Rinderknecht authored over 150 articles. From 1963 onward, most of his publications were related to the biochemistry and pathophysiology of the pancreas. In addition to exploring the role of proteolytic enzymes and their inhibitors in pancreatitis, his research explored the nature of pancreatic secretory patterns in health and disease. His discovery and study of inhibitor-resistant trypsin and the role of inflammatory mediators, lysosomal enzymes, and cytokines in pancreatitis were widely heralded in the research community, which made him a much sought after speaker well into his late 80's. To those who knew him, Heinrich Rinderknecht was not only a genius in the fields of medicine and biochemistry, but a loving family man possessed by an unwavering belief in the goodness of man and the wonders of technology. He constantly espoused a personal philosophy of equanimity, integrity and loyalty to friends and family. In addition, a first Lieutenant in the Swiss Cavalry, he was equally as patriotic about his adopted nation, the USA. His absolute devotion to his wife, Peggy, during both her years of health and illness were an inspiration to all blessed to know the couple. Their improbable romance began when they met at a boarding house in London. He was a Swiss farmer by birth and spoke little English.; she was an educated and well-travelled daughter of a Major in the Royal Artillery. Yet, however unlikely these two were ever to meet, their love was an immediate and lasting one, and carried them through 67 years and from England to Switzerland and finally to the USA. To many, including his four children, and eleven grandchildren, he was a prolific teller of European folk tales, and published Stories of the Mountain Ghost in 1991 and The Ghost of the Ore Mountains in 1999. He typically seemed the quintessential absent-minded-professor, often misplacing his glasses or his wallet, but was an expert in world history and classical music, a great font of humorous anecdotes and a life-long lover of cats. Heinrich Rinderknecht, a long-time resident of both Altadena and Santa Barbara is survived by four children, Margaret de Beixedon (Ted Yanak) of Altadena, H. R. Rinderknecht, M.D. (wife, Sallie) of Escondido, John Rinderknecht, M.D. of Salinas and Susie Rinderknecht (husband, Dale Du Bois) of Pasadena. In addition, he has three surviving siblings, Emmy Schneider and Ernst Rinderknecht of Zurich, Switzerland and Rudolph Rinderknecht of Romanshorn, Switzerland. His grandchildren are John de Beixedon, M.D., Sage de Beixedon, PhD., Elisabeth, Karin, Derek, Karl, Danielle, Lauren and Fatuma-Ayaan Rinderknecht, Andrew and Rober1010