Emanuel “ Manny ” Epstein , a retentive - term resident of Davis and a grand professor in the former department of soils and plant nutrition at the University of California , Davis , decease on December 4 , 2022 , in Davis .
He was bear in Germany in 1916 , coming of age just as Hitler ’s Nazis started persecuting Germany ’s Jews . His menage , positively Judaic but not spiritual , was powerfully Zionist , put up what would be a Judaic nation in Palestine . Epstein ’s father foresaw coming ill times for Jews , equipping each family fellow member with a pass , visa , and a small suitcase with supplies needed to fly the increase danger .
After a brief stay in Belgium with relatives , the folk went to Palestine . After rest on a farm there , Epstein start to the United States to study pomology at UC Davis , clear his bachelor ’s degree in 1940 and captain ’s arcdegree the next yr . With understatement , he save , “ That gave me a taste for research . ”
Epstein , by then tame , married Californian Hazel Margaret ( “ Peggy ” ) Leask , who was wide get laid and respected in the community . She died in 2020 , and their married couple of 78 years was the static shopping center of two fruitful lives .
In 1958 , Epstein completed his doctorial arcdegree in works physiology at UC Berkeley ’s illustrious division of industrial plant nutrition . He conk on to a young research building block at the USDA ’s principal induction in Beltsville , Md. , using radioisotope to study mineral in industrial plant micro nourishment . He , Peggy , and their two boys – Jonathan and Jared – enjoyed the proximity of Washington , D.C. , its public buildings , museums , galleries , and magnificent scene .
In 1958 they returned to UC Davis , where Epstein stayed until retiring in 1987 .
At UC Davis , Epstein pioneered advanced fields crucial to existent - world agriculture , showing how mineral nutrients are absorb through plant cell membranes ; developing crop works include wheat , barleycorn , and tomato plant able to tolerate saline conditions ; and on the surprising significance of the element atomic number 14 in protecting plants against environmental onslaughts such as disease , pests , and metal toxicity .
Epstein print more than 80 metre , including what became the received textbook for flora nutrition . He was a friend and mentor to hundred of graduate students , co-worker , postdoctoral researchers , and visiting scientist . He was a member of the National Academy of Sciences , the American Society for the Advancement of Science , and legion other organizations .
As a professor emeritus for many years , Epstein kept a productive hand in flora inquiry , riding his bike almost daily to the science laboratory on campus for a full day ’s body of work . “ It ’s a passion , ” he said of his research and teaching in 2003 , “ A commitment to take yet another step to come on scientific discipline and empathise nature ’s secrets . ”
Surviving family is in the United States ( California , Texas , New York ) , France , England , and Israel . Peggy and Emanuel Epstein are survived by their son , Jonathan ; five grandchild ; several great - grandchild ; and a large prolonged class who loved and admired them .
Source : plantsciences.ucdavis.edu
