Abstract
Dr Paul M. Newberne, 94, of Bedford, Massachusetts, passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on March 22, 2015. Paul was one of the early giants in veterinary pathology and served the profession for more than 60 years. Paul started life on a peanut and cotton farm in Georgia. After completing 2 years at the University of Georgia, Paul entered the navy in 1942, serving as a naval aviator until his discharge in 1945. After earning his veterinary degree from Auburn University in 1950, Paul embarked on a long and illustrious career that included an MS in veterinary pathology, private practice, and a return to his studies, with a PhD in nutritional biochemistry and a minor in human pathology at the University of Missouri in 1958. Paul returned to Auburn, where he served on the faculty until 1962, by which time his scientific contributions led to his being recruited to join the faculty at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Retiring from MIT after 24 years, Paul joined the faculty at the Boston University School of Medicine, serving as professor of pathology at the Mallory Institute of Pathology, where he remained until his second retirement some 10 years later. At age 90, Paul’s microscope was still in use at his home, where he continued to provide advice and consultation.
During his career, Paul authored or coauthored more than 300 publications in refereed journals, edited 7 books, and authored more than 75 book chapters and reviews. Paul advised more than 150 students through the years. Of these, more than 50 earned a PhD. His students have continued his legacy with their own significant contributions. Paul served as president of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists in 1970. During his tenure, he successfully introduced the practice of changing the venue of the meeting each year. Previously, the meeting had been held each year in Chicago. For his extensive contributions to the college and to veterinary pathology, Paul was honored as a Distinguished Member of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists in 2007.
Many of Paul’s students and postdocs were international, so his influence reached the far corners of the world, including Thailand, Turkey, Mexico, Brazil, Russia, and Australia. Paul had a particularly close relationship with the people of Thailand, where he was instrumental in organizing the Faculty of Science at Mahidol University and served on the International Advisory Board of the Chulabhorn Research Institute. Paul’s contributions to toxicology and pathology in Thailand led to his being presented with the Princess Chulabhorn Gold Medal Award. This is an extremely rare honor and was awarded in recognition of his contributions in supporting “improvement of the quality of life for the people of Thailand and surrounding countries of Southeast Asia, and of all mankind, especially in developing countries.”
A review of Paul’s life and career brings one quickly to the realization that few have had the influence that he has had on our profession. He will be missed.