Professor Epstein dies in car crash

Behavioral Neuroscience Professor Alan Epstein died last Thursday in an automobile crash in Mexico while attending a scientific meeting on developmental psychobiology. He was 59. Epstein, a member of the University's Biology Department, was the first in his field to identify which hormone in the brain acts to raise the appetite for salt, and was considered a worls authority on this subject. Recently, Epstein, along with five other professors from three different universities, received $5 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to study the biological mechanism that causes salt appetite. Biology Department Associate Chairperson Yoshitaka Suyama, described Epstein as a "very warm person among associates." Eliot Stellar, anatomy department chairperson at the University, said he was immediately impressed with Epstein when he taught him as an undergraduate at John Hopkins University. "He was inspiring, especially to students. A lot of people and science were dependent on him," he said. "Many of the students he taught are now outstanding scientists as well." After Epstein received his medical degree from John Hopkins in the late 1950s, Stellar said he decided to follow his former teacher to the University, where he was hired as an assistant professor in the Biology Department. He had been with the University ever since. According to Suyama, Epstein was the second longest standing faculty member in the department. Funeral services for Epstein will be held at 3 p.m. at Levine's Memorial Chapel at 7112 North Broad Street. Epstein is survived by his wife Fifi, daughter Lise Corson, son Mark, daughter Ruth and two grandchildren, Philip and Rachel.

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