IN MEMORIAM

Mannfred A. “Fred” Hollinger

Professor of Pharmacology, Emeritus

UC Davis

1939 – 2007

Mannfred A. “Fred” Hollinger died in his home in Tucson, Arizona on April 19, 2007 at the age of 67. He was born in Chicago, Illinois on June 28, 1939 to Bob and Theda Hollinger. He is survived by his wife Georgia; his sons Randy and Christopher; Christopher’s wife Aran and their two children Elle and Cade; and his brother Mark and his wife Linda.

 

Fred earned his BA degree in laboratory science, combined with a liberal arts education, at North Park College, Chicago, in 1961. After graduating from college, Fred began his long career in pharmacology “on the bench” as a Research Pharmacologist in Baxter Laboratories in Morton Grove, Illinois. His practical experiences reinforced his interest in pharmacology and acted as a catalyst for his goal of an academic career. For more training in pharmacology, he obtained a M.S. degree in 1965 and then a Ph.D. degree in 1967 from Stritch Loyola University, Chicago, IL. Fred was then awarded a post-doctorial fellowship in 1967 in the Department of Pharmacology, Stanford University under the direction of the distinguished pharmacologist Dr. Avram Goldstein. In 1969, Fred became the first faculty member to be appointed to the Department of Pharmacology in the newly formed School of Medicine at the University of California, Davis. For the next 32 years Fred served as a faculty member of the Department of Pharmacology. He rose to the ranks of professor in 1986, was appointed department chairman in 1990, and served in this capacity for the next 10 years. Fred’s career was also advanced by two significant sabbatical leaves: a Burroughs-Wellcome Fellowship at the University of Southampton, Southampton, England, in 1986 and a NIH Senior Fogarty International Fellowship at Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany, in 1988.

 

Fred’s research focused on elucidating the biochemical mechanisms of pulmonary toxicity, an area of research on which a number of University of California, Davis, faculty have established their reputations. His work concentrated on both drug-induced lung toxicity, as well as, the potential health hazards of pesticides using a number of biochemical techniques to explore drug-induced changes in lung tissues in both experimental animals and in humans. His contributions to this area of research have been particularly valuable in addressing the environmental concerns of Californians.

 

Fred was a valuable member of the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutic for over 25 years where he served on a number of committees of the Society, including the John Jacob Abel Award Committee. Fred was most appreciated and best known for his work for the Society’s publication The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics. He was Assistant Editor for the Journal and served as Specific Field Editor in the field of pulmonary pharmacology from 1978 until his retirement. He was also a member of the Society of Toxicology and was a Fellow in the American Board of Forensic Examiners. He served on the Editorial Advisory Board of Research Communications in Chemical Pathology and Pharmacology and for the International Journal of Toxicology, which is the American College of Toxicology’s sole official journal.

 

Fred was a prolific writer for both professional and lay audiences. He was Series Editor for Pharmacology and Toxicology: Basic and Clinical Aspects and Handbooks of Pharmacology and Toxicology. He also wrote Introduction to Pharmacology, which was intended to be a primer for undergraduate students in the biomedical sciences.

 

After retirement, Fred and his wife moved to their lovely property below the Pusch Ridge in Oro Valley, a very picturesque area north of Tucson, Arizona. Here he continued his scholarly efforts and it is fitting that Fred ended his life doing what he loved most - writing with colleagues and family. Just before Fred’s passing, he was at the galley stage of the third edition of his book Introduction to Pharmacology and his son Randy, a graphic artist, was preparing the figures and illustrations. It was left to his long time friend and colleague, Dr. Shri Giri of the School of Veterinary Medicine, to make the final review and allow Fred’s last book to be published posthumously.

 

Fred will be remembered for his wit and for his calm, efficient demeanor and will be appreciated for his decade long stewardship of the Department of Pharmacology and for his over three decades of service to the University of California, Davis.

 

Gary L. Henderson