Senate Reference No. 05-10                                 

Memorial Resolution

Dr. Benjamin Becker

Professor Emeritus of Biology

Dr. Benjamin Becker, 89, Professor Emeritus of Biology at IPFW died at Regency Place, Fort Wayne, on September 15, 2005. He was born in New York City and grew up in South River, New Jersey.

Dr. Becker received both his bachelor=s degree from the School of Chemistry in 1937 and his Ph.D. in 1965 from the Institution of Microbiology, at Rutgers University. As a graduate student, he served as a research assistant to Nobel prize-winner, Dr. Selman Waksman. Prior to coming to IPFW in 1969, he was a member of the faculty at Hamilton College in Clinton, New York. Dr. Becker served on the faculty at IPFW until his retirement in 1981.

His professional affiliations included the American Society of Microbiology, the American Chemical Society, the Indiana Thoracic Society, Sigma Xi and Phi Lambda Upsilon.

A widely publicized discovery by Dr. Becker was that some lung allergies developed from drip pans in refrigerators, a condition that he later referred to as AKitchen Lung.@ He also contributed to the fields of cancer, other lung diseases, and fungi known as Actinomycetes. His most important research, ARapid Differentiation of Streptomyces from Nocardia by Paper Chromatography@ was published in Applied Microbiology. In 1980, Dr. Becker was a recipient of the Governor=s Pride Conservation Award in recognition of his service and promotion of the conservation ethic. This award was based on his work in fuels conservation, primarily the extended usage of waste polyethylene food containers.

Ben taught microbiology to both majors and non-majors. As a teacher, he had a knack for clarifying difficult concepts for his students. Students enjoyed his classes because of his great sense of humor and zest for life. In addition to Dr. Becker=s expertise in biology, he coached the IPFW=s women=s tennis team for a number of years.

Dr. Benjamin Becker was a member and vice-president of Congregation Achduth Veshalom in Fort Wayne. He is survived by two daughters and two grandchildren.

We thank him for his many years of fine service to the university.