Emil Alvin Pfitzer
McClain Associates, 10 Powder Horn Ter, Randolph, New Jersey 07869
38 Mohawk Road, Short Hills, New Jersey 07078
We deeply regret that toxicology has lost a scientist dedicated to elevating the standards of science in our profession. Dr Emil A. Pfitzer, Past President of the Society of Toxicology, passed away on 20 July 2007 at his home in New River, AZ, after a long illness with a chronic lung disease. Emil was a very active participant in and strong advocate for our Society, and as President, he presided over the Society during its 25th anniversary year (1985–1986) and was a member of the 40th Anniversary Task Force.
Emil was born on 30 June 1929 in Chattanooga, TN, son of the late John Joseph Pfitzer and Jennie Margaretha (Hansen) Pfitzer. He was a graduate of the University of Chattanooga, class of 1950.
Emil received his doctoral degree at the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health in 1961, where he remained on the faculty conducting research and teaching in occupational health. In 1965, he moved to the University of Cincinnati School of Medicine to conduct research on lead, chlorinated insecticides, and their concentration in the environment.
Emil's career spanned academia and industry, which provided a broad scientific basis from which advice was often requested by various governmental and regulatory agencies.
In 1972, Emil joined Hoffmann-La Roche in the Department of Toxicology and Pathology and over a 22-year career at Roche, rose to Vice President of Toxicology and Pathology. During his tenure at Roche, many important new medicines were brought to market. These included, for example, alpha interferon, the very first biotechnology drug made by human recombinant technology. Recombinant technology brought in a new era in drug development, including the challenges that these novel agents presented for safety assessment. Since the approaches used for conventional small molecules were not always relevant for large peptides and proteins, new approaches for safety evaluation were needed on a case-by-case basis. Emil recognized at a very early stage, the importance of mechanistic toxicology in drug development and supported research on developmental compounds ranging from mechanisms of carcinogenesis to the function of retinoid receptors. The characterization of mechanisms of toxicity proved to be very important and provided a better perspective for the safety of patients in human clinical trials.
Emil's demeanor was usually one of quiet listening, asking key questions, and staying constantly involved in making the Toxicology Department at Roche one of the best in the industry.
For those who visited Emil in his office, they saw stacks of paper, piled high, covering his desk and tables (books, journals, internal reports, memos, etc.). Amazingly, they were as neat as could be and he could find anything at a moment's notice. Nobody has ever seen Emil angry, frustrated to be sure, but never angry. He always had a calming influence on debates, scientific and otherwise. Rarely was there a derogatory comment made about anyone. Critical yes, derogatory no. Usually present was Emil's subtle sense of humor.
Emil was a member of the prestigious National Academy of Sciences, Commission on Life Sciences, for which he served on a number of the Academy's committees. He also served on many other prestigious committees such as the Science Advisory Board for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, the Committee on Toxicology of the Science Board of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the World Health Organization, and the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, to mention a few. One of Emil's more impressive and important attributes was that he could almost always find the middle ground on any issue. As a result, he was a very popular and valuable committee member or chair based on this skill.
During his more than 22 years of service at Roche, Emil had worldwide influence in the field of toxicology and, as noted above, served as President of our Society of Toxicology in 1985–1986. In addition, he served as a consultant to numerous institutions and as an adjunct professor at several universities and colleges.
Emil served on the Expert Panel for the Research Institute for Fragrance Materials (RIFM) for 5 years, and after retiring from Roche in 1995, he served as President of RIFM.
Emil was accredited in Toxicology as a Fellow of the Academy of Toxicological Sciences and a Diplomate, American Board of Toxicology. He was also the recipient of many prestigious awards including the Stokinger award for industrial toxicology from the American Governmental Conference for Industrial Hygienists, the 1995 Arnold J. Lehman award from the Society of Toxicology, and the 1996 Toxicology Ambassador award from the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the Society of Toxicology.
Emil's work was obviously a strong passion, but he was also devoted to family, church, charitable causes, and nature appreciation. He was married to the late Jeanne Frances (Prien) Pfitzer for 54 years. He is survived by a sister, Grace Pfitzer of Chattanooga, TN; his children, Gary Pfitzer of San Francisco, CA, Greg Pfitzer of Wilton, NY, Gordon Pfitzer of Chino Hills, CA, and Margaret Mullins of New River, AZ; and six grandchildren.
For all who knew Emil A. Pfitzer, they recognized that he was a remarkable human being and his shining attributes were his ever-present sense of dignity, decency, and love of his family and toxicology. Toxicology has lost a scientist dedicated to elevating the standards of the science and teaching his colleagues how to work by his example.
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