Phillip Wickboldt Banda

When asked to sum up his life in six words, Phil chose:
Dr. Phillip W. Banda, age 85, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his family. He was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, as the second son of Dr. Francisco and Edna W. Banda. He grew up in Washington, D.C. with his two brothers, Dr. Perry Banda, who predeceased him, and Capt. Lionel Banda USN (Ret) of Groton, CT. He graduated salutatorian from Gonzaga College High School in 1958 and then received his BS degree from Georgetown University. He went on to earn his PhD in Biophysics from Stanford University in 1969. Once he adapted to the strange new world of California, he was hooked. It also helped that he met his wife of 59 years, Carolyn Banda (Patten), when she dropped some books on the Stanford campus, which led to their meeting and lifelong partnership.
His long and multifaceted career began with a postdoctoral fellowship at Ames Research Center, conducting research into the origins of life. He then pursued melanoma research at the UCSF Department of Dermatology to identify precursors to the disease. Afterward, he taught Biochemistry, Research Methodology, and Toxicology at Palmer Chiropractic College and San Jose State University, where he was so well regarded by his students that he was even invited to one of their weddings. After teaching, he joined Applied Biosystems in the Peptide Synthesis Division, traveling across the country to help laboratories set up peptide-synthesis systems, including at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). He retired in 2004, but was later called out of retirement to lead the establishment of a DNA analysis center for the Federal government at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.
Phil's love of learning never faded. Later in life, he studied Spanish and French so that he could translate documents in Ecuador and France to research his father's diplomatic career. Always up for an adventure, he went on an Amazon excursion in Ecuador, which was memorable not only for the scenery but also for the bugs.
He had many other passions, including wine making, which, as a member of PHEW (Peninsula Home Enologists Workshop), led to 50 years of wine making with friends and family and produced some award-winning wines. His other great love was the mountains, where he would hike, camp, backpack, and fish at every opportunity. He was also an avid gardener, runner, swimmer, and competed in many runs and open water swims.
Above all, Phil will be remembered for being an incredibly kind, generous, and enthusiastic person. He never put himself first and was always ready to help others, no matter what was needed. He was a genuinely fun, adventurous, and intellectually curious person who cared deeply for people, which was evident to those whose lives he touched.
He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Carolyn Banda, his daughter Margaret (William Gould), his brother Lionel (Sandee), and many nieces and nephews. He will be profoundly missed.
Dr. Banda was interred at Saint John's Cemetery in San Mateo. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.