|
|
Joseph Meites
December 22, 1913 - January 31, 2005
Meites, Joseph, Ph.D. Okemos, MI Joseph Meites, born December 22, 1913,
in Kishinev, Russia (now Moldavia), died on Monday, January 31, 2005, at the
Hospice House of Mid-Michigan, at the age of 91. He was preceded in death by
his parents, Ben and Freda Meites, three brothers, Isidor, Morris and
Samuel. Professor Meites is survived by his beloved wife, Mable, of 62
years; his brother, Jerry Meites of Farmington Hills, MI; a sister, Renee
Meites-Lintz of Florida; and some nieces and nephews. Professor Meites
emigrated to the United States (St. Joseph, MO) with his parents in 1920. He
graduated from grade school, Central High School and Junior College in St.
Joseph and received the BS, MA and Ph.D. degrees from the University of MO.
He met his future wife, Mable, while at the University. They were married in
1943. From 1942-46, he served in World War II as a First Lieutenant and was
assigned to the 106th General Hospital in Southern England. In 1947, he was
appointed as Assistant Professor of Physiology at Michigan State University.
In 1955, Professor Meites received a Weizmann Fellowship and he and his wife
spent a year at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, Israel, where
he did research in endocrinology. Professor Meites was a mentor of over 80
graduate students who attained the Masters, Ph.D., and Post Doctoral
degrees. His students have contributed to furthering medical knowledge world
wide. Together with his students, he edited six scientific books, wrote 85
chapters in other scientific books and more than 500 scientific articles,
all in the area of endocrinology. He was a pioneer in the field of
neuroendocrinology and a co-founder and first President of the International
Society of Neuroendocrinology. He served on many U.S. government scientific
advisory committees, on scientific journal editorial boards and university
committees. He participated in many scientific conferences world wide.
Professor Meites received recognition for his contributions to teaching and
scientific research including the MSU Distinguished Faculty Award, the
Junior and Senior Sigma Xi awards, the Carl Hartman award in the study of
reproductive physiology, the Robert H. Williams Distinguished Leadership
award and other citations for his work on prolactin, hormonal control of
breast cancer and his pioneering research on aging. Dr. Meites is known by
students and colleagues as a pioneer in the field of endocrinology and as
the scientist whose research established the foundation for the role of the
brain in controlling hormone secretions that led to the winning of the Nobel
Prize in Physiology by his colleagues Roger Guillemin, Andrew Schalley and
Rosalyn Yallow in 1977. Dr. Meites was considered by his students and
colleagues as a model of excellence in research education and ethical
standards. They write that "He did everything in his power to help his
students develop into bright scientists. He stimulated them and inspired
them to do their utmost and allowed them complete freedom to sharpen their
ideas and knowledge. He was never offended by their challenges to his ideas
and criticisms of his theories. The affection and care he bestowed upon his
students is a phenomenon not commonly seen during modern times. When seeing
him at scientific meetings surrounded by his students and other young
scientists one was reminded of the Greek teachers we read about in the
classics." He was a member of the American Physiological Society, the
Endocrine Society, the Neuroendocrine Society, and a number of other
scientific organizations. He retired as Professor Emeritus in 1984. He was a
member of Congregation Shaarey Zedek. Contributions may be made to the
Hospice House of Mid-Michigan, c/o Sparrow Foundation or to the charity of
your choice.
Published in the Lansing State Journal - February 2, 2005
|
|
