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Ronald William Oppenheim

1938 - 2021

BORN

1938

DIED

2021

Ronald Oppenheim Obituary

Oppenheim, Ronald William

November 2, 1938 - January 7, 2021

Ronald Oppenheim died on January 7, 2021 after losing a battle with leukemia. He was born in Des Moines, Iowa, where he attended public schools (K-12) and received a B.S. degree (Biology, Psychology) from Drake University in 1963. He was the son of second-immigrant parents, a Swedish mother (Astrid Magnuson) and a Lithuanian Jewish father (Norris Oppenheim), both now deceased. In 1963, Ron left Des Moines for St. Louis, Missouri to begin a Ph.D program at Washington University, where his research mentors were Viktor Hamburger (National Medal of Science Awardee 1990) and Rita Levi-Montalcini (1986 Nobel Laureate). After receiving his Ph.D in 1967, he remained for one year at Washington University Medical School to learn neurophysiology. In 1968, Ron moved to North Carolina, where he established a neuroscience laboratory in the Research Department of the N.C. Department of Mental Health at Dorothea Dix Hospital in Raleigh and was also a professor of Neurobiology at UNC, Chapel Hill. In 1983, he moved to Wake Forest University Medical School, where he established a new Ph.D Graduate Program in Neuroscience in 1992 and was its first director until his retirement in 2013 at the age of 75. His research on brain development was recognized nationally and internationally for which he received several awards, honors, and prizes and was invited to present more than 300 lectures at academic centers and conferences throughout the world. Over the course of his 50-year career, he trained over 30 graduate and post-doctoral students. Ron had a wide range of interests outside of science, including modern dance, music theater, films, literature (biography, history), and cooking. He was also an avid swimmer, tended a large vegetable garden each summer, and with his wife, Sherry, visted many countries and exotic places - their favorite, French Polynesia, in 2018. Ron is survived by a sister, Lyn Foshé of Ames, Iowa; three daughters, Lora Mitchell of Des Moines, Sara Oppenheim of New York City, and Vanessa Smith of Winston-Salem; five grandchildren ranging in age from 3 to 30, Levi Shephard Smith (3), Olivia Smith (6), Anna-Claire Hopper-Oppenheim (14), Danny Jordenson (27), and Ellie Jorgenson (30); and finally he is survived by his friend, companion, and loving and extraordinary wife of 35 years, Sherry Vinsant.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Winston-Salem Journal from Jan. 9 to Jan. 10, 2021.

Memories and Condolences
for Ronald Oppenheim

35 Entries

Leo

October 14, 2023

I am so sorry to hear of Dr. Oppenheim's passing.

I don't know much about Ron. I only met him once, but I could tell he was a great person.

R.I.P.

Janet Zucker

October 7, 2022

I am just now learning of Ron´s death and share my sadness and condolences. I was a graduate student with Ron in Raleigh and his generosity of mentoring and teaching made a great difference in my life. Ron´s spirit remains a testament to his life and I am forever thankful. Janet (Hall) Zucker (PhD, 1985)

Tom Shown and Celia Fuller

Planted Trees

Mack & Linda Kerley

Planted Trees

Philippe and Sue

Planted Trees

Ramon Moreno

Planted Trees

Sherry Vinsant

Planted Trees

Sherry Vinsant

January 23, 2021

Thank you to everyone for the kind comments. Though my heart is very heavy, it is good to know that so many have fond memories of Ron. On some far flung trip or just here at home, he always had my back (and front, too). I will miss him more than words can say.
As in the picture, he has
passed on. Sherry Vinsant

Clara Thore

January 15, 2021

I was saddened to hear of Dr. Oppenheim´s passing. He was indeed a great asset to the Anatomy Dept and the Medical School. I remember when he was hired and how impressed we all were with someone of his scientific caliber being a part of the Dept. Sherry my heart goes out to you.

Andrew Sweatt

January 14, 2021

My condolences to Sherry and the extended family. I am happy to have been one of Ron´s colleagues at the Medical School. Ron was always generous with resources and advice to trainees and junior faculty, myself included. I am grateful to Ron for affording me the opportunity to teach in the early years of Neuroscience program he founded. Over the years, it was a real pleasure to get to know Ron more personally as a neighbor and fellow retiree. I will miss his driving or walking by the house on his way to the emeritus office or the YMCA, when we would at least wave and sometimes chat for a while. Ever the scholar, even in retirement, Ron researched and wrote essays on scientific and cultural topics, and he sent them to friends and family. I am glad I was on the mailing list, as Ron told a good story, with footnotes and a bibliography. We will miss him.

Jackson Taylor

January 13, 2021

I was truly saddened to hear of Dr. Oppenheim's passing. He was one of my first scientific mentors and definitely a role model. Even years after finishing in the Neuroscience program, I still think of him often, and I feel lucky we stayed in touch a bit.

I did my very first PhD lab rotation with Dr. Oppenheim in 2007. I was unbearably intimidated by him; I'm not even precisely sure why, but probably it was his reputation for unparalleled brilliance combined with his slow, terse way of speaking. Whatever the reason, I had to pace up and down the hallway for 10 minutes anytime before I met with him, to work up the courage to pop my head in his office. He was usually in there, grading papers or studying his flash cards that I think he used to better remember scientific papers. He was always patient and helpful. After eventually getting over my fear of him, I came to learn what a kind, sincere, interesting, and FUNNY man he was.

I remember learning he took a few hours in the middle of each day to go swimming then have lunch and a cigar, which made me think "this guy really has life figured out."

I remember once at a seminar, a speaker showed a picture of a dolphin anesthetized on a table with a man leaning over it, and the speaker asked "does anyone one know what this man is doing?" and Dr. Oppenheim loudly asked, completely deadpan "Is he milking it?"

After my thesis proposal, I remember overhearing him tell another professor, who had previously expressed doubts about whether I belonged in the program, that surely he must be free of the doubts now. It was a small thing and I don't think he even meant for me to hear it, but it meant the world to me.

I'll always remember his lab, on the 4th floor (NE?) corner of Gray Building. It was next to the anatomy lab and filled with filing cabinets, with hundreds of thin, precisely labeled drawers for scientific papers, and jars filled with colorful liquids for histological staining. It felt like something from a different era, but there was always something warm and fun about it.

And I remember his relationship with his wife and co-worker in the lab, Sherry, and how happy they seemed together.

Lastly, I remember how he constantly worked to make things better for all of the students in the Neuroscience program and did his best to support them however he could.

I could go on, but I just want to express what an impact Dr. Oppenheim made on me and how much I admired him. I will always remember him fondly and am proud to have known him.

-Jackson Taylor

Masaaki Yoshikawa

Planted Trees

Sandra O'Steen

January 12, 2021

Sherry, I am so sorry to hear this news. He was a good friend to Keith all those years in the Neuroanatomy Department. He was so very good about keeping up with Keith after his retirement in `93 right up to when he passed (it was 2 yrs on 1/1). My deepest sympathy for your loss. Thoughts and prayers for you and your family.

Carol Milligan & Eric Findeis

Planted Trees

Svitlana Bach

January 12, 2021

Dr. Oppenheim was one of the most important mentors in my career. He was always understanding and ready with great advice! During my round-table interviews at Wake for graduate school, my first question from Dr. Oppenheim was “what do you think about Putin?” Me being Russian, I replied that my response will take longer than our allowed interview time. Everyone laughed and the ice was broken. When I was accepted for a prestigious study abroad in Italy and could not afford the registration fee, Dr. Oppenheim provided the funds to allow my travel. As a retirement present, I set up his Facebook page. He promised me he will learn how to use Facebook, and he did. Dr. Oppenheim had an incredible mind. During every single one of my talks, committee meetings and my defense, he asked at least one question I couldn’t answer. He made me think outside of the box. The most important lesson I learned from him was that you can be a talented and successful scientist while staying understanding, down to earth, and carrying individual. I will miss Dr. Oppenheim so much and will carry the lessons he’s taught me for the rest of my life.

Michele Mercuri

Planted Trees

Jeff Weiner

January 12, 2021

Ron was the literal father of our Neuroscience Graduate Program. He has left behind an incredible legacy that will hopefully continue for many years. He was also a terrific scientist and a genuinely kind person. I know he led a very rich and full life and I hope that his memory will be a blessing to all that knew and loved him.

Jordi Calderó and Montserrat Torra

January 12, 2021

Dear Sherry, feelings are very difficult to express at a time like this. We are shocked and extremely saddened to hear such bad news. Ron was an exceptional man, excellent scientist and even better person, mentor and friend. We will miss his scientific advice, life´s lessons and recommendations about jazz music. His memory will remain forever in our hearts. Our prayers and thoughts are with you and your family.

Shunsaku Homma

January 11, 2021

Ron was a very intelligent and passionate scientist, which I had always admired. He was also a very receptive and supportive person, accepting post-doctoral fellows and students from all over the world. My time as a student at his was one of the best times of my life. My sincere condolences from afar to Sherry.

Tammy Spence

January 11, 2021

I will always remember how elated I felt when I received that phone call from Dr. Oppenheim to inform me of my acceptance into the Neuroscience Program at Wake Forest University. I will share one short story that I remember fondly. Dr. Oppenheim taught me to be a better science writer. In the first paper I sent him, I used the phrase, "I feel" a lot. The paper came back with every instance of "I feel" circled in bright red ink. He concluded with "great start, but there are no feelings in science." I have since relayed that message to several friends and colleagues. Each time I pass along that message, I laugh a bit and think of him.

I will be eternally grateful for the unwavering support that Dr. Oppenheim showed me during my time at Wake Forest, and I would not be where I am now without him.

Cash McCall

Planted Trees

Bob Coghill

January 11, 2021

Ron will be greatly missed. He was such a wonderful colleague at Wake Forest and contributed so much towards making that environment such a pleasant place to work.

Cormac O'Donovan

January 11, 2021

Ron was an exceptional person - scientist and human being. He was a great resource to me and many others for personal and academic support. He was great listener and advisor and gave selflessly of his time. He will be greatly missed. There will be no-one quite like him.

Lyn Fosheo

January 11, 2021

To my family: I want each and every one of you to know that Earnie and I have you and our thoughts daily and are hoping that you are coping with this terrible loss. I'm trying to look on the bright side of everything and the way he lived his life and the wonderful time he had with his daughters and Sherry. Peace

Dwayne Godwin

January 11, 2021

Ron was a man of great kindness and empathy, and tremendous intelligence. He was one of the world's great developmental neurobiologists, whose contributions were of international stature. He was greatly loved by family and friends, and the space he leaves in our hearts will never be refilled. I'm so sorry, Sherry.

Beverly FitzGerald

January 11, 2021

I was so sorry to hear of this and am deeply sorry for your loss. Ron was a great man who always took the time to chat and ask how my family was and my life, a very caring man.

Brantly Shapiro

January 10, 2021

My heart is with you, Sherry. I appreciate you more than I can say, and wish you and your family peace.

Chris and Donna Edden

January 10, 2021

So sorry to hear that Ron has passed away
Our thought are with you and the family

Michael Tytell

January 10, 2021

Ron was a great colleague and friend since joining the Neurobiology & Anatomy Department at Wake Forest University School of Medicine in 1983. We shared an emeritus office space in the department when I retired in 2015, two years after him. It was during that time that I got to know him as a friend even better. I will miss him greatly.

Lucien Houenou

January 10, 2021

All my deepest condolences to the family and all who are left to grieve. It´s been a big honor to have crossed path with Ron, Sherry and their families. Ron has been, for several decades, a tremendous mentor, advisor, and friend; not only to me, but also to my family. Ron was a brilliant scientist and skillful writer who contributed a great deal to advance the knowledge of a global community of his peers. He will be dearly missed and may he Rest In Peace. Our thoughts and prayers are with Sherry, Lora, Sarah, Vanessa and all their families. Kindest regards to all. Lucien & family.

Lyn Foshe

January 9, 2021

Lyn Foshe

January 9, 2021

Lyn Foshe

January 9, 2021

I love you, big brother. I've always looked up to you and appreciated your intelligence. I can't imagine never talking to you again. I know I'm going to pick the phone up 5 times a day to call you. I appreciate the special phone calls we had during your last few weeks. Wherever you are, or aren't, I hope the journey was smooth.

Love you Bro, your baby sister.

Michele Mercuri

January 9, 2021

Dear Sherry: Ron's memory will stay with me and all of us forever. Beside being an ingenious scientist, Ron was a fine man, a fantastic mentor and a polyhedric and stimulating mind of many interests. I was among the many to be touched by his generosity and I will cherish the time spent with him forever. Thinking about you. Michele

Steve and Dee Kerr

January 9, 2021

Sherry, we are so terribly sorry for your loss. Ron was a fine man, a much loved mentor, and above all, a good friend. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
love,
Steve and Dee

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