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Obituaries

Alling, CC Biostatistics Expert, Dies

By Sue Kendall

Dr. David W. Alling, 80, a special assistant for biostatistics at the Clinical Center, died on Jan. 20 of respiratory failure. He was a pioneer in the application of statistical methods to biomedical research.

He was born in Rochester, N.Y., and earned his medical degree from the University of Rochester. He did an internship in internal medicine at Arnot-Ogden Hospital in Elmira, N.Y., and was a resident in pulmonary diseases at Biggs Memorial Hospital in Ithaca, N.Y.

Dr. David W. Alling

After earning his doctorate in statistics at Cornell University in 1959, Alling joined NCI as a medical officer. In 1960, he accepted the same position with NIAID, and in 1964 was appointed the institute's research mathematical statistician. In 1971, he became special assistant for biometry.

In his work at NIH, Alling helped researchers define the population sample needed to show efficacy of a particular therapeutic agent, develop clinical protocols, randomize the drug treatment, and analyze statistical data. He made numerous contributions to scientific journals on mathematical and statistical theory, and trained upcoming physicians in statistics and methodology. He received the Public Health Service Superior Service Award in 1981 and the PHS Special Recognition Award in 1989.

Since 1996, Alling served the Clinical Center as a special assistant for biostatistics. He was a valued collaborator and dear friend to many. A memorial service is tentatively scheduled for April.

CC Volunteer Mary Maze Is Mourned

Mary Maze, 69, former Clinical Center employee and Red Cross volunteer, died Dec. 23, 1998. She had asthma.

She came to the CC in 1985 as an employee development specialist and retired in 1992. After leaving NIH, she volunteered at the CC with both the Blood Bank and the Red Cross desk.

Mary Maze

"Most people knew her as a really fine humanitarian who always had a mission," said Andrea Rander, director of volunteer services. "She was a valuable part of my life and to others in the hospital and her death is an enormous loss to us all."

Maze was a Massachusetts native who graduated in 1950 from Newton College of the Sacred Heart in Newton, Mass. She received a master's degree in education from the State Teachers College in Boston and in 1983 completed a 2-year education for parish service program at Trinity College in Washington.

She is survived by her husband, Chester, of Bethesda; a son, Charles, of San Diego; two daughters, Marianne Maze Bullen of Gaithersburg, and Elizabeth Maze, of Alexandria; and three grandchildren.

NIAID Mourns Loss of Jack Muñoz

Dr. John J. "Jack" Muñoz, an award-winning microbiologist, died at the age of 80 in Tucson, Ariz., on Jan. 9. He retired from NIAID's Rocky Mountain Laboratories on Dec. 30, 1988, after 27 years of service. From 1989 to 1997, he served NIAID as scientist emeritus.

"Dr. John Muñoz gained international recognition for his exemplary research on the cause of whooping cough, Bordetella pertussis," said Dr. Anthony Fauci, NIAID director. "He elucidated the complex structure and composition of B. pertussis and clarified the role of many components of the cell in the pathogenesis of whooping cough. This information was of critical importance in vaccine development. His outstanding contributions strengthened NIAID's intramural research program on bacterial vaccines."

Dr. John J. "Jack" Muñoz

In 1979, Muñoz received the NIH Director's Award for his research on the immunobiology of components of Bordetella pertussis and for his contributions toward the development of an improved vaccine against whooping cough. He was also listed in Who's Who in America and Who's Who in American Men and Women of Science.

Muñoz assumed a position as research microbiologist at the Rocky Mountain Laboratories in 1961. He had previously served as assistant professor at the University of Illinois Medical School in Chicago and research associate at Merck-Sharp and Dohme. From 1957 to 1961, he was chairman of the department of microbiology and director of the Stella Duncan Memorial Laboratory at the University of Montana in Missoula.

While at RML, Muñoz was head of the allergy and immunology section. His major area of interest was biologically active substances from B. pertussis and the role of these components on induction of immunity to this bacterium. He published extensively with colleagues and collaborators worldwide. His tenure at RML included temporary assignments to the Pasteur Institute in Paris and to the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute for Medical Research in Australia.

Although his primary field was bacteriology, he had an abiding interest in pathogenesis of persistent viral diseases. The present Laboratory of Persistent Viral Diseases at RML was founded with scientists who had worked in Muñoz's section.

He was born in Guatemala. After graduating from high school in Guatemala City, he came to the United States, where he earned a bachelor's degree in chemistry from Louisiana State University and a master's degree in bacteriology from the University of Kentucky. In 1947, he received a Ph.D. in medical bacteriology from the University of Wisconsin in Madison.

Survivors include his wife, 4 children and 5 grandchildren. He is also survived by a brother and a large extended family in Guatemala City. Memorial contributions may be sent to the Bitterroot Public Library Foundation, 306 State Street, Hamilton, MT 59840, to purchase science books.


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