Biochemist Bob Warner dies

Longtime Laguna Beach resident Robert “Bob” Collett Warner died March

25 at the age of 91.

Born on August 31, 1913 in Chehalis, Washington, Mr. Warner had a

long and distinguished career as a scientist and educator. He

received a bachelor of science degree from CalTech in 1935, a master

of science degree from New York University in 1937 and a doctorate

from NYU in 1941.

Although trained as a biochemist, Mr. Warner carried out research

on the characterization and biophysical analysis of macromolecules.

He made many fundamental contributions to analysis of proteins and

nucleic acids. He served on numerous national institutes of health

review boards, was an elected member of several scientific societies

and was on the editorial board of the Journal of Biological

Chemistry.

From 1941-1949 Mr. Warner worked as a chemist at the USDA Eastern

Regional Laboratory. In 1946, he began to teach at NYU as an

assistant professor of biochemistry and received the NYU Great

Teachers Award in 1969. In 1958, Mr. Warner was a fellow of the John

Simon Guggenheim Foundation.

In 1969, he moved to UC Irvine to become professor and chair of

the Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry. He became a

professor emeritus in 1981.

Beyond his scientific achievements, Mr. Warner was a committed

mentor, and many of his graduate students remember him for his deep

compassion and sly sense of humor.

Mr. Warner and his wife Estelle moved to Laguna Beach in 1973 and

lived here until just recently when they moved to Marin County. They

were long-standing participants in the Temple Hills Community

Association and Village Laguna, and strong supporters of

environmental and artistic causes.

Mr. Warner is survived by his wife Estelle; children Peter, Jisho

(wife, Carrie), and Victoria; stepdaughter Ruth, and grandchildren

Dylan, Emily, Cynthia, Michael and Nicholas.