John Edmond, Professor Emeritus of Biological Chemistry (1937-2022)

From the UCLA Dept. of Biological Chemistry:

We are saddened to report that John Edmond, PhD, Professor Emeritus of Biological Chemistry, passed away on February 17, 2022. Born on January 21, 1937 at Balafark Farm, Fintry, Scotland, Edmond was just passed his 85^th birthday.

 

After obtaining his BSc and PhD in Chemistry and Biochemistry from the University of Glasgow, Edmond served as Assistant Lecturer in the Department of Chemistry at the same university. After a brief stint as a research biochemist in a basic lipid laboratory at Shell Research in England, Edmond was recruited as Assistant Professor to the Department of Biological Chemistry in 1968. His research career encompassed developmental neurobiochemistry and metabolism, focusing on lipid metabolism in the brain and its relationship to developmental disorders. Dr. Edmond had a distinguished academic and scientific career spanning over 40 years. He served as a reviewer in the NIH Physiological Chemistry Study Section (1980-86), and on the editorial board of Journal of Neuroscience Research for more than a decade.

 

John was a true citizen of UCLA and served on many committees, providing effective service to not only DGSOM but also to UCLA and the broader UC. Among the posts he held were Chair of the Academic Senate Committee on Research (1988-89), Chair of Statewide Committee on UC Research Policy (1989-1990), Chair of the Council on Planning and Budget (1992-94), Chair of the Academic Senate Task Force on Research Policy (1995-96), and Chair of the Academic Senate (2001-02). He was also the founding Chair of the Academic Senate Council on Research (1996-97). In DGSOM, Edmond served on the medical student Admission Committee and Gender and Power Abuse Committee for many years. Edmond believed deeply in the role of the Academic Senate and the model of shared governance at UCLA.

John was beloved by his students as well as his colleagues. He was variously described as principled, compassionate and fair with a cheerful personality. No task was too small to recruit his help. He was held in high regard by his trainees and peers alike.

He is survived by his wife Lorna whom he met and married in Glasgow, two children and four grandchildren. At his wish, his ashes will be interred with those of his family in Scotland.