Daniel Normand Hebert

It is with heavy hearts and profound sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved husband and father Dr. Daniel N. Hebert on Sunday, December 8th, 2024. Daniel was born in Corning, New York, on May 6th, 1962, to Dr. Normand and Therese (Provencher) Hebert. He attended Goffstown High School in Goffstown, New Hampshire. He was on the tennis team at the University of New Hampshire and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry.
Daniel was a true scholar. His scientific contributions are characterized by their biochemical rigor and reflect his boldness in tackling important but challenging biological problems. His passion for science, his devotion to critical thinking and his strict interpretation of well-designed experiments were passed on to his trainees. They were very lucky to have had such a caring and disciplined mentor guide their early careers.
Daniel did his doctoral studies with Dr. Anthony Carruthers at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, obtaining his Ph.D. in 1991. His post-doctoral work at the Yale School of Medicine with Dr. Ari Helenius demonstrated the potential of working at the nexus of cell biology and biochemistry. He began his independent career at UMass Amherst in 1997 and made seminal discoveries about new code of information: how carbohydrate modifications act as signals to facilitate the proper folding and quality control of a large fraction of the proteins in our bodies, those that are secreted from cells via the endoplasmic reticulum. Work from the Hebert Lab has laid the foundation for understanding how sugars contribute to diseases such as diabetes, genetic lung disorders, liver cirrhosis, Alzheimers and many others.
Daniel was a professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at UMass for 27 years. He loved teaching and enjoyed getting his students excited about science.
Daniel lived a life with many passions. He shared his love of learning, books, and sports with his family and friends. He was an avid reader and enjoyed discussing politics and current events. He loved cheering on Boston sports teams, as well as his children in the pursuit of their passions. He spent many fond summers in Stowe, Vermont, and at his family home on the Cape. He was best known for his quick wit and dry sense of humor that lit up every room.
Daniel loved his family and is survived by his wife of 33 years, Leah (Kelley) Hebert; their son, Dylan, of Oxford, England; and daughter, Shannon, of Boston, MA. He is also survived by his sister, Michele Becker, and his brother, Marc Hebert. He was predeceased by his sister, Dr. Suzanne Hebert Imondi.
The family would like to extend sincere thanks to Dr. John McCann for his support and care. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Daniels memory to a molecular and cellular biology scholarship award at UMass. Send to: University of Massachusetts Amherst Foundation, 134 Hicks Way, Amherst, MA 01003. Please reference Daniel Hebert in the memo line.
Visiting hours will be held at Douglass Funeral Home, Amherst, on Thursday, December 19, from 4-7pm. A mass will be held at the Newman Center on Friday, December 20, at 10am. Followed by a memorial reception at the Student Union Ballroom at 11am.