BIOCHEMIST SHARED WISDOM
DONALD WHITAKER 1 919- 2014
Born in Winnipeg in July 1919, Donald Whitaker had a typical childhood but also showed an early academic ability and an interest in science. As part of a family of six children during the Great Depression, prospects for attending university hinged on getting a scholarship for the two high school graduates with the highest grades in the province. Studying in a closet when necessary, he got the gold medal in English literature and 100 per cent in algebra, and then headed to the University of Manitoba to study sciences, and also play interfaculty football.
Work on his master of science stopped when Donald was recruited into a military radar-detection program for people strong in math and science. He served, first as part of the Royal Air Force and then the Royal Canadian Air Force, in North Africa and the Mediterranean.
Following the Second World War, Donald was reintroduced to academic life at the University of Toronto. He was drawn to the emerging field of biochemistry, in part due to the experience of war and the toll taken by infections, including accounts by a highly decorated uncle who fought in the First World War.
At the Banting Institute, he met Kathryn Hunter, who was a lab technician. He left for the University of London for doctoral studies, with Kathryn marrying him in September 1947 in England.
It was a period of postwar rationing and bombed-out ruins along with a royal wedding, Wimbledon tennis, and the London Olympics. With his PhD completed in 1948, they headed to the Pasteur Institute in Paris before returning to Canada.
Donald began his career as a biochemist with the National Research Council in Ottawa and eventually became head of biochemistry, before moving in 1970 to be a professor in the department of biochemistry at the school of medicine at University of Ottawa. Believing strongly in the importance of advancing basic research and science, he was an early proponent of the formation of the Canadian Biochemical Society (now the Canadian Society for Molecular Biosci- ences) and served as its president. As well as being a member of United Kingdom and American biochemical societies, he was also an early president of the Pan-American Association of Biochemical Societies.
For his substantial contribution to science, he received a doctor of science degree from the University of London in 1963. During his career, Donald published more than 60 research papers and reviews in academic texts and journals, such as Nature, and Science. He obtained several patents. The role and contribution of science to many areas of life was something he noted and appreciated, including
He enjoyed teaching … in the laboratory, classroom, or with his children, grandchildren and greatgranddaughter.
the introduction of powerful little calculators and computers, which replaced the slide rules in his lab, and the breakthroughs in genetics, which opened new understandings and research possibilities.
He enjoyed teaching, whether in the laboratory, classroom, or with his children, grandchildren and great-granddaughter. Post-doctoral students from around the world (India, England, Europe, United States, Japan and Canada) worked with him in his laboratory and joined the family for holiday meals in their Old Ottawa South home.
His interests were wide-ranging. For many years, he was a season ticket-holder for the Ottawa Rough Riders, as well as a regular at the Stratford Festival, a supporter of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, and a listener to Saturday afternoon opera broadcasts. He travelled for work and for pleasure to many parts of the world.
He retired in 1979, just before the arrival of his first grandchild and was a devoted grandfather. His wife Kathryn died suddenly in 2004. A man of sometimes strong views, he mellowed with time. After contracting a superbug while in hospital, in 2010 he moved into the Villa Marconi Long-term Care Centre, where he was known as “Doc.” He enjoyed music, time with his personal support worker Alissa, and with his family, including his great- granddaughter Kathryn.
After a rapid decline, Donald died peacefully of pneumonia on March 21, 2014, with family present. He is survived by his daughters Marilyn (Richard Macy) of Ottawa and Shirley (George Molnar) of Oakville, his grandchildren Vivienne (David Haddon), Gordon, Alexander, Christopher, and Kathryn, his great-granddaughter.