Marc Caron

1946 - 2022

Marc Caron
July 26, 1946 - April 25, 2022
Hillsborough, North Carolina - Marc Caron, 75, beloved father, friend and renowned scientist passed away on Monday, April 25, 2022 at his home. He was born in St. Cyrille de L'Islet, Québec, Canada, the son of the late Cyrille Caron and Rita Langlois Caron. In addition to his parents, Dr. Caron was preceded in death by his wife, Réjeanne Pauline Vignet Caron.
Dr. Caron and his family moved to Durham, NC in 1977, following receipt of his BSc in Chemistry from Laval University and his PhD from the University of Miami. He joined the faculty of Laval University School of Medicine in 1975, and then returned to join Duke's faculty, where he remained as a James B. Duke Professor until his death. He and his laboratory members studied the mechanisms of action and regulation of hormones and neurotransmitters and how they might underlie brain and behavior disorders such as schizophrenia, Parkinson's disease, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, mood disorders and addiction. Among his many honors, Dr. Caron was an investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute from 1992 to 2004, a member of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and recipient of the Julius Axelrod Award. An authoritative and prolific scientist, with over 650 scientific publications, he is most beloved as a mentor and his relentless encouragement that shaped the careers of hundreds of scientists world-wide.
Marc was also a devoted husband and caring father, who found his greatest joy and pride in his children and grandchildren. Either with his family, laboratory members or as a gentleman farmer, Marc found serenity and purpose in all that he did. As much as he enjoyed traveling, he and his wife Pauline found fulfillment and joy in welcoming international scholars into their extended family in Durham.
Dr. Caron is survived by his daughters, Kathleen Caron and husband Michael Datto, Melissa Caron Grahn and husband Eric Schwartz; son, Nelson Caron and wife Tiffany; grandchildren, Logan Grahn, Nicholas Datto, Olivia Grahn, Sophia Datto, Vivian Caron, Eleanor Caron; dear friend, Joanne Bisson; brother, Luc Caron and wife Andrée; sisters, Micheline Caron, Diane Caron and husband Gérald, Edith Caron and husband Gérald Gendron, Francine Caron; Nicole Caron and husband Manuel Téotonio and the relatives of the Vignet Family.
A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 30th at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church with Father Hugh Macsherry officiating. A reception will follow at Cameron Indoor Stadium, Champions Club at 3:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in memory of Marc be made to the Prof. Marc G. Caron Trainee Award, to support the career development of junior scientists. Donations can be made at: https://www.gifts.duke.edu/mem/Caron
The family is being assisted by Clements Funeral & Cremation Services, Inc. in Durham. Online condolences can be made at www.clementsfuneralservice.com.