Dr. Harold Swaisgood

1936 - 2025

Dr. Swaisgood was born in Ashland County, Ohio, January 19, 1936, the son of the late Ray Weaver Swaisgood and Jennie Morr Swaisgood and passed away October 6, 2025. He was preceded in death by his wife and companion of 67 years, Janet C. Swaisgood. Surviving are family members: sons Mark Harold and Ronald Ray, daughters-in-law Aileen Swaisgood and Janice Swaisgood and grandsons Alex, Peter, Owen, and Luke. All currently live in Poway and San Diego, CA. He graduated from Ashland City High School in 1954.

Dr. Swaisgood had a long career in Food Sciences and Biochemistry, earning many awards and developing and international reputation. He attended Ohio State University, where he received several scholarships, receiving a B.S. degree in 1958. While there, he met and married the love of his life, Janet E. Cromwell. He attended Michigan State University on a Graduate Research Assistantship and a National Institutes of Health Pre-doctoral Fellowship, obtaining a Ph.D. in Chemistry in 1963. In1964 he was awarded a National Institutes of Health Post-doctoral Fellowship to study the basic properties of milk proteins at the USDA Eastern Regional Research Laboratory in Philadelphia.

From 1964 until retirement in 2001, Dr. Swaisgood was a member of the faculty at North Carolina State University in the Department of Food Science (currently the Department of Food, Bioprocessing, and Nutrition Sciences). In 1974 he was a Visiting Scientist at Lund University in Sweden, where he studied the subunit structure of enzymes. In 1983 he was a Guest Scientist and Intergovernmental Personnel Act Awardee at the National Institutes of Health, where he researched neuroendocrine polypeptides. In 1984 he was named a William Neal Reynolds Distinguished Professor of Food Science & Biochemistry.

During his tenure at NCSU, 34 Doctoral students and 13 Master's students completed their degrees doing research in his laboratory. He also mentored 10 postdoctoral fellows and taught graduate courses in Food Science and Biochemistry.

Research in Dr. Swaisgood's laboratory covered a wide range of topics in protein and enzyme chemistry. He was recognized internationally for his work with milk proteins and enzymes and for the methods he developed for studying protein interactions. His laboratory was especially known for the identification and characterization of the enzyme sulfhydryl oxidase in milk and its importance in disulfide bond formation and folding in proteins. The laboratory was also recognized for development of methods for specific covalent attachment of proteins and enzymes to solid surfaces and its use to characterize protein interactions with other molecules or as a means for developing bioreactors for processing or analytical purposes. An example of an analytical application was the development of a bioreactor with attached digestive enzymes for assaying food protein digestibility. In the later years, recombinant enzymes were developed that could be selectively adsorbed to solid surfaces. The laboratory was also known for its characterization of the vitamin binding capability and functionality of whey proteins. Research by Dr. Swaisgood and his students was published in over 200 peer-reviewed scientific journals, 150 Abstracts of presentations at scientific meetings, and 41 book chapters. This research was greatly supported by grants of nearly 3 million dollars from federal and private agencies. His research was highly influential in this field, with his publications garnering nearly 10,000 citations by other scientists. Many of his scientific discoveries had practical application, such as the removal of cooked flavor from milk, detection of antibiotics in milk, and removal of contaminants from contact lenses. He received 6 U.S. patents for his work.

Dr. Swaisgood was active in many professional societies including the American Dairy Science Association, the Institute of Food Technologists, The American Chemical Society, the American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, the American Institute of Nutrition, Sigma Xi, Phi Kappa Phi, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. In recognition of his contributions and leadership, his colleagues selected him to serve as National President of the American Dairy Science Association, Chair of the Gordon Research Conference on Immobilized Systems in Biotechnology, President of the NCSU Chapter of Sigma Xi, and on the Boards of the Council of Agricultural Science and Technology, the Federation of Animal Science Societies, and the NCSU Friends of the Library. His mentorship of Graduate Students was recognized by the Alumni Graduate Research Professorship Award. In retirement, he was President of the NCSU Association of Retired Faculty. The University recognized his contributions with its highest honor, the Alexander Quarles Holladay Medal for Excellence.

His contributions to research were recognized by many awards including the Dairy Research Foundation Award and Borden Award from the American Dairy Science Association, and the Award for Advancement of Application of Agricultural and Food Chemistry from the American Chemistry Society. He was named a Fellow of the Agricultural and Food Chemistry Division of the American Chemical Society and of the American Dairy Science Association. He was recognized as an Outstanding Alumnus of Michigan State University and of his High School in Ashland. Dr. Swaisgood was listed in Who's Who in Science and Engineering and in Who's Who in America.

While impressive, the list of awards and honors does not do full justice to his contributions to society. His strong, quiet, humble, and supportive style of leadership and mentorship was widely appreciated by his students and junior colleagues. They admired his intelligence and knowledge, but deeply appreciated his creativity, commitment, and his kindness. His support for his students did not end with acquisition of a Ph.D. but extended throughout their professional careers. He stands as testament that the best leaders are also kind and full of empathy. To help maintain this legacy in perpetuity, his former students Mark and Mary Sliwkowski, established the Harold Swaisgood Biochemistry Mentorship Fund at NCSU to support student research.

Dr. Swaisgood also led a balanced life, enjoying family life, painting, square dancing, hiking, and traveling. He and his wife were long time supporters of the NCSU Friends of the Library and the North Carolina Museum of Art. They established an endowment with the Friends of the Library. In later life, he and his wife were avid supporters of the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Harold and Janet Swaisgood Endowment with the NCSU Friends of the Library, Harold Swaisgood Biochemistry Mentorship Fund, or the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. Condolences may be expressed at https://www.tridentsociety.com/obituaries/san-diego-ca/harold-swaisgood-12548428.