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An appreciation of Samuel P. Bessman
An Appreciation
of Samuel P. Bessman
It is a great pleasure for me to pay tribute to Sam Bessman on this happy occasion. 1 first met Sam when I was working in the Lipmann laboratory in the late forties. Sam had received his M.D. degree, and was embarking on a career in pediatrics. Sam was stimulated by the recent developments in biochemistry and desired to gain more experience in the field so that he could pursue his interest in the metabolism of the brain and. in particular. mental retardation. 1 remember Sidney Colowick and myself recommending him to Heinrich Waeisch for a postdoctoral fellowship. Through the years, Sam has been a role model in utilizing biochemical concept\ to resolve medical problems. Sam showed his great creativity in his early studich on ammonia toxicity as well as phenylketonuria. Sid Udenfriend has stress4 the significance of this research. and 1 do not wish to repeat the importance ol‘ this work, but I would like to emphasize his achievement despite the opposition of the scientific establishment. 1 recall a meeting in 1951 at The Johns Hopkins University where Sam postulated that mitochondria must contain a creatine kinase. Later. he outlined the creatine phosphate shuttle which now has been widely recognized a$ a major factor in regulation of muscle metabolism. His work on mitochondrial hexokinase and insulin was and still is provocative and important. Sam’s insight is second to none. These contributions have resolved many of the difficulties that are found when attempting to interpret in lttro data to in tcir~~ function. Hi5 work has stressed that there is a field of “biochemical medicine” which will play ;t role in understanding metabolic diseases in man. Sam has combined his brilliant mind with a capacity to develop instrumentatton which is indeed unusual. His development of the “phosphate machine” as well as his work on the artificial pancreas are examples of his outstanding mechanical skill. Those of us who know him well are indeed amazed by his ability to build a laboratory. remodel a house, or landscape a garden. I have always been impressed by Sam’s fertile mind. One can carry out ;I discussion with him for hours: even if you disagree with him, the experience i\ always unforgettable and rewarding, I have known Sam and Alice for over 35 years. Their warmth and friendship has indeed been one of the most pleasurable facets of Goldie’s and my life. We wish them ail our very best and hope that they will have many more years of happiness and intellectual challenges. We all have gained much from their friendship and always will cherish the time spent with them.
of Samuel P. Bessman
It is a great pleasure for me to pay tribute to Sam Bessman on this happy occasion. 1 first met Sam when I was working in the Lipmann laboratory in the late forties. Sam had received his M.D. degree, and was embarking on a career in pediatrics. Sam was stimulated by the recent developments in biochemistry and desired to gain more experience in the field so that he could pursue his interest in the metabolism of the brain and. in particular. mental retardation. 1 remember Sidney Colowick and myself recommending him to Heinrich Waeisch for a postdoctoral fellowship. Through the years, Sam has been a role model in utilizing biochemical concept\ to resolve medical problems. Sam showed his great creativity in his early studich on ammonia toxicity as well as phenylketonuria. Sid Udenfriend has stress4 the significance of this research. and 1 do not wish to repeat the importance ol‘ this work, but I would like to emphasize his achievement despite the opposition of the scientific establishment. 1 recall a meeting in 1951 at The Johns Hopkins University where Sam postulated that mitochondria must contain a creatine kinase. Later. he outlined the creatine phosphate shuttle which now has been widely recognized a$ a major factor in regulation of muscle metabolism. His work on mitochondrial hexokinase and insulin was and still is provocative and important. Sam’s insight is second to none. These contributions have resolved many of the difficulties that are found when attempting to interpret in lttro data to in tcir~~ function. Hi5 work has stressed that there is a field of “biochemical medicine” which will play ;t role in understanding metabolic diseases in man. Sam has combined his brilliant mind with a capacity to develop instrumentatton which is indeed unusual. His development of the “phosphate machine” as well as his work on the artificial pancreas are examples of his outstanding mechanical skill. Those of us who know him well are indeed amazed by his ability to build a laboratory. remodel a house, or landscape a garden. I have always been impressed by Sam’s fertile mind. One can carry out ;I discussion with him for hours: even if you disagree with him, the experience i\ always unforgettable and rewarding, I have known Sam and Alice for over 35 years. Their warmth and friendship has indeed been one of the most pleasurable facets of Goldie’s and my life. We wish them ail our very best and hope that they will have many more years of happiness and intellectual challenges. We all have gained much from their friendship and always will cherish the time spent with them.