Dr. Peter A. Getting

GETTING, JESSEN, SMITH, SECKER

Posted By: Tara (email)
Date: 7/3/2009 at 10:24:42

Dr. Peter A. Getting, born November 28, 1944 in Belmont, Massachusetts, died Saturday, May 20, 2006 at UIHC following a lengthy illness.

He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1967, and his PhD in Biophysics from the University of California, in 1971. He married Marna Jessen on July 12, 1969 in Los Angeles, California.

After completing a post-doctoral fellowship in 1974 at the University of Washington, Peter was an Assistant Professor at Stanford University. He became a Professor in the Department of Physiology and Biophysics at the University of Iowa in 1980, where he taught neurobiology to medical students. In addition to being an internationally renowned neurobiologist, Dr. Getting’s accomplishments as a scientist were paralleled by his excellence as a mentor of young scientists.

In 1988 he suffered a massive brain hemorrhage which left him incapacitated. Since that time he has been a resident of Greenwood Manor in Iowa City. Dr. Getting’s family would like to extend their heartfelt appreciation to all the caregivers at Greenwood Manor, who over the years have opened their arms and hearts in caring for both his physical and emotional needs.

Peter is survived by his former wife, Marna, presently residing in Walnut Creek, California; his son, Brian, of Steamboat Springs, Colorado; his daughter, Ingrid (Andrew) Smith of Iowa City; three grandchildren, Peter, Caroline and Carson of Iowa City; one brother, Ivan C. Getting of Longmont, Colorado and one sister, Nancy (Elmer) Secker of Green Bay, Wisconsin.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Ivan A. and Dorothea Gracy Getting.