Perry Frey Honored by American Chemical Society
at The 234th ACS Meeting, August 2007, Boston MA
The American Chemical Society Division of Biological Chemistry honored the achievements of Perry Frey, UW-Madison’s Robert H. Abeles professor of biochemistry, with a symposium in his honor in August at the society’s annual meeting in Boston.
John Richard, Ken Gruys, Squire Booker and Joseph Wedekind are four of Frey’s former students or postdocs who will be presenting at the symposium organized by Claire CaJacob.
Frey has been extremely active in the ACS for the past 40 years. In addition to acting as the Associate Editor of Biochemistry for the past 15 years, Frey served on the Executive Committee of the Biological Division and held the position of Chair from 1990-1992.
Called a pioneer in the field of radical-mediated enzyme reactions, Frey has made significant contributions to the understanding of phosphoryl transfer reactions, the enzymology of carbohydrate metabolism and peptide bond hydrolysis.
Frey’s career highlights include
- 2007 Hilldale Award
- 2003 Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science
- 2003 Fellow, American Academy of Arts and Sciences
- 2000 Repligen Award, Division of Biological Chemistry, American Chemical Society
- 1998 Elected to the National Academy of Sciences
- 1995 Alexander von Humboldt Senior Scientist Award
- 1993 WARF Professorship, Robert H. Abeles Professor of Biochemisty
The symposium was held from 2-5 p.m. on August 22 at the ACS meeting in Boston.
Quick notes on the ACS meeting and banquet in Boston
Many Frey lab members came to Boston for the August 22, 2007 ACS symposium in Perry’s honor, and then for the celebratory banquet afterwards. Claire CaJacob was instrumental in organizing both the symposium and the banquet (and we all have her company, Monsanto, to thank for the dinner). ‘Perry stories’ abounded, including a delightful presentation by Doug Sammons, and ranged from hiking expeditions, to fishing adventures, to family growth and change, to reminiscences about holiday potlucks and Carolyn’s good influences, to heartfelt thanks from all for Perry’s guidance.
While the symposium presentations amply demonstrated how former lab members have broadened the scope of Perry’s research interests yet further (and the food at the dinner was delicious!), that so many lab members attended offers a far more significant testimony of Perry’s scientific legacy. We work in multiple areas (industry, government, academia) and in multiple disciplines, but each of us can look back on our experience in the Frey lab as one of the most formative influences on our career paths. The symposium provided a wonderful excuse for members of the ‘Frey lab family’ to have a most-welcome reunion.
Perry spoke movingly at the dinner about his decision to attend Ohio State, and his continuing gratitude for the affordability of the program. At the time, Ohio State’s tuition was approximately 5% of that of private schools, and it was close enough that Perry’s beater car could transport him adequately. The University of Wisconsin then offered a similar bargain, but in-state tuition at Madison is now closer to 30% of private schools—beyond the means of many deserving students, even with scholarships and loans. For this reason, Perry and Carolyn have worked with the University of Wisconsin Foundation to establish the Perry and Carolyn Frey Life Sciences Scholarship for undergraduate education.
Kafryn Lieder