Peter Albersheim, distinguished professor emeritus at the University of Georgia (UGA), has passed away after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. He is survived by his wife Ivana, his first wife Joyce and their son James Walter, and daughters Renée and Stephi, his grandchildren Anthony Peter and Katie Lynn, and his sister Anne Gertrude.
Peter received his B.S. in plant pathology in 1956 from Cornell University and his Ph.D. in biochemistry in 1959 from the California Institute of Technology. He and Dr. Alan Darvill founded the Complex Carbohydrate Research Center (CCRC) in September 1985. Dr. Albersheim spent 21 years as a professor of biochemistry in the Departments of Chemistry and Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology at the University of Colorado in Boulder, prior to coming to the University of Georgia.

Dr. Darvill and Dr. Albersheim co-directed the CCRC as well as their combined research teams. Peter Albersheim was also co-director of the Department of Energy-funded Center for Plant and Microbial Complex Carbohydrates. From 1990 to 2002, he was director of the National Institutes of Health-supported Resource Center for Biomedical Complex Carbohydrates. Dr. Albersheim was the 1973 recipient of the Charles A. Shull award of the American Society of Plant Physiologists and in 1984 of the Kenneth A. Spencer award of the American Chemical Society. He was a frequently invited speaker to special symposia, meetings of scientific societies, and to civic, commercial, and academic organizations in the U.S and around the world.

There will be a celebration for family and friends which will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider a donation to the Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research at www.michaeljfox.org .

Lord and Stephens, East is in charge of arrangements. www.lordandstephens.com

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