Gene Alvin Homandberg

Gene A. Homandberg Remembered Gene A. Homandberg, PhD, chair of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at The University of North Dakota (UND) School of Medicine and Health Sciences, passed away in Grand Forks Monday, December 21, 2009 at the age of 59. Homandberg has held the respected William Cornatzer Chair in Biochemistry at UND since his appointment as professor and chair in 2002. He was a highly recognized researcher in osteoarthritis and cartilage physiology. In recognition of his work, he was bestowed the Dr. Ralph and Marian C. Falk Professor of Biochemistry endowed chair for six years at Rush Medical College in Chicago before his appointment at UND. In 1999, Homandberg was awarded permanent membership in the Frontiers in Bioscience Society of Scientists, based on his work in the regulation of cartilage metabolism in osteoarthritis. An Iowa native, Homandberg pursued his education at the University of South Dakota where he earned his B.S. in Chemistry and a PhD in Biochemistry. He served as a postdoctoral research associate in the Department of Chemistry, Division of Biochemistry, at Purdue University, and later took advanced training as a postdoctoral fellow at the National Institutes of Health Laboratory of Chemical Biology in the National Institute of Arthritis, Metabolic and Digestive Disorders, Bethesda, Md. Homandberg was a member of the American Society of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Biology, the Orthopedic Research Society, the Osteoarthritis Research Society and the American Cancer Society among others. He has written more than 75 research journal articles in addition to invited reviews and book chapters; reviewed manuscripts for prestigious journals and applications to a variety of federal and private funding organizations; and mentored six PhD students and numerous undergraduates and medical students. His favorite hobbies were: hiking, biking, rock climbing, photography, camping and all things outdoors. He also enjoyed technology and applying it to everything that he did. Dr. Homandberg is survived by: his mother, Darleen Homandberg of Sioux Falls, SD; four sisters including Becky Richeal (Ron) of Oregon, WI; Vicky Gannon of Sioux Falls, SD; Connie Homandberg of Sioux Falls, SD; and Mary Summey (Todd) of Lennox, SD. He is also survived by one brother, Al Homandberg (Beth) of Four Seasons, MO.