Gilbert H. Gottlieb

What a privilege it was to be asked by the family to lead the memorial service. I found in Gilbert's life the diamond analogy drawn from Exodus 28 most compeling. Another analogy to the diamond I did not use in my meditation was its lasting quality. Our valued memories of Gilbert no matter of what basis of our acquaintance, will not fade, but be of lasting quality, as will his life contributions.



Rev. Donald L. Cooper

Gilbert believed in me and in my work--and was willing to go to bat for me--at a crucial time in my life. For him to use his stature as a respected scientist in that way was remarkable.



Later, he willingly hired me to work part-time for him. I could sit and listen to him talk about his own work for hours--the stories he told were fascinating, and I could ask for further explanation when necessary. He did amazing things!



I never really understood the full implications of his research as well as I would have liked, but he never tired of explaining things again when I would ask. And after knowing Gilbert and learning from him, I found that I could not help but ask from time to time, even after I had stopped working for him and moved on to other things. It is thanks to Gilbert that I read stories in the press about the "genes for" some disease or some trait with a more critical eye, nowadays. Unfortunately, now I can't forward these stories to him and ask questions like I used to do--my attempts to read the popular literature on genetics through the critical lense of Gilbert's work are entirely on my own now. So the growth of my understanding may be slower. The latest version of that understanding is this:



It seems to me that what Gilbert was trying to say is that a "gene"--that which passes along information about how to form a trait, like an organ or a behavior, in an organism--is a process, not a thing. Most people, especially but not exclusively people who write about genetics in the popular press, treat genes as if they are things and as if those things *do* stuff. But maybe a "gene" is, more properly speaking, the sum of the epigenetic processes that produce any given trait?



When I was taking biology in high school, I was amazed to discover that the DNA code for every trait and organ in your body is present in all cells of the body. So I raised my hand.



"If that's the case, how does a cell in your eye know that it's in your eye, instead of in your foot? And how does a cell in your foot know it's a foot cell and not an eye cell? Why don't they ever get confused and why don't you ever get an eye cell in your foot?"



My teacher said, "Well, if that happened, I guess you'd be a sight for sore eyes!" And the whole class laughed.



As I recall, that was the extent of the answer to my question. I felt like it must have been a stupid, stupid question.



Thirty years later, after knowing Gilbert and beginning to understand something about his work, I asked the question again. Gilbert thought it was a brilliant question. He didn't laugh at me. Instead, he used that as a building block to try to teach me.



And that's what Gilbert was--a world-class researcher and an enthusiastic teacher. And not only that, for some of us he was a friend and supporter at times and in ways that went above and beyond the call of duty. I will really miss him.

I would like to thank all who were able to attend the Memorial service, in Raleigh, for Gilbert Gottlieb, for coming and also to thank all those who sent cards and flowers and made contributions to charities in his memory.

I will never forget Gilbert; he will always remain one of the most influential people to have touched my heart and my life. He was such a brilliant thinker and writer, and I will never be without the many lessons he impressed upon me. I was privledged to have been his student and will continue to share his message my whole life.

What a wonderful service for Gilbert. I will always cherish my memories of conversations, walks and shared meals with him. He was the most generous and principled colleague, with his great insight into developmental processes and his gentle sense of humor.

My heartfelt condolences go out to Nora and the Gottlieb family. Our field has lost a giant, our local community of developmental scientists has lost an anchor, and I have lost a friend.