Larry W. Oberley

OBERLEY, MOORE, COYNE, DEEGAN, WICHMAN

Posted By: Tara (email)
Date: 6/11/2009 at 16:53:58

Larry W. Oberley, 62, of Iowa City died on Monday, April 21, 2008, at his home after 35 years of living on dialysis.

Larry was born on January 23, 1946, in Effingham, IL, the son of James and Ruby (Moore) Oberley. In 1964, he graduated from Janesville Senior High School in Janesville, WI. Following high school, Larry graduated from Northwestern University with a B.A. in Physics. On August 2, 1969, Larry married Kathleen Coyne in Janesville, WI. Larry went on to graduate from The University of Iowa with a M.S. in 1970 and a Ph.D. in 1974, all in Physics.

Larry was the Director of the Free Radical and Radiation Biology Graduate Program, Department of Radiation Oncology at Iowa from 1998 until this past January. He served as the Deputy Director of the Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center, College of Medicine, from July 2004 to June 2007. He was one of the originators of the Free Radical Theory of Cancer. During his career, Larry published 233 articles and 12 reviews in peer-reviewed journals. In November 2005 Larry was received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Oxygen Society.

Although Larry was an extremely productive cancer researcher, he considered himself first and foremost a mentor. He mentored 19 M.S., 25 Ph.D. students, and 12 post-docs and involved all his trainees as equal partners at every stage of the development of his research. In this regard, Larry has inspired a generation of free radical biologists, expanding research efforts at The University of Iowa and throughout the world. Larry’s efforts as a mentor have resulted in The University of Iowa becoming one of the premier institutions for Free Radical Biology and Medicine in the United States with the first Free Radical and Radiation Biology Ph.D. degree-granting program.

Larry’s devotion to training the next generation of biomedical researchers was deeply rooted in his own belief that basic research could provide answers to human diseases. In the Acknowledgements section of Superoxide Dismutase:Volume II that he edited for CRC Press in 1982 he said, “As my life has been prolonged by the wonders of science, I hope that the lives of others will be prolonged by the fruits of the knowledge contained in this volume.” Despite the obstacles his disability presented, Larry persevered. He quietly, selflessly, and with unwavering resolve devoted his life to the discovery of a cure for cancer as well as other diseases that involved free radical-mediated etiologies. His perseverance in the face of adversity inspired those close to him.

Larry was a loving husband and always committed time to spend with his family. He coached baseball and softball for his children. He enjoyed reading, listening to the Beatles, and watching movies with his family. He loved watching baseball and was a die-hard Cubs fan.

Larry is survived by his wife Kathleen of Iowa City, a daughter Rebecca (Paul) Deegan of Denver, CO, a son Christopher (Margarete Wichmann) of Madison, WI, a twin brother Terry (Edith) of Madison, WI and his mother-in-law Dolores Coyne of Janesville, WI. Larry was preceded in death by his parents and his father-in-law.

The Oberley family would like to express their sincere appreciation for the kindness of The University of Iowa Renal Staff who supported 33 years of home dialysis care and provided 18 months of in-hospital care.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to The University of Iowa Foundation in memory of Larry.