Dr Roger P Maickel, 73, of Lafayette, IN, died on Tuesday, December 26, 2006. The Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology as well as all of his colleagues in the Purdue University School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences are deeply saddened by his death. Dr Maickel was a dear friend, colleague, mentor, and the former Department Head.

Born on September 8, 1933, in Floral Park, Long Island, NY, he was the son of the late Philip V and Margaret M Rose Maickel. He lived in Washington, DC, and Bloomington, IN before moving to Lafayette, IN. He graduated from Chaminade High School, received his bachelor's degree in 1954 at Manhattan College, master's degree in 1957, and his doctorate in 1960 from Georgetown University.

Dr Maickel worked for the National Institute of Health as a research scientist from 1956 to 1965, was professor of pharmacology in the medical sciences program at Indiana University from 1965 to 1977, was department head of pharmacology and toxicology at Purdue University from 1977 to 1983, returning as professor at Purdue to continue his research from 1983 to 1999. He became professor emeritus of pharmacology and toxicology in 1999.

Dr Maickel received the National Institute of Health Research Development Award 1969–1974 and the NASA Life Scientist Award 1972–1975, was a guest lecturer for the DEA–US Department of Justice for 15 years, served on the US Product Safety Commission 1979–1981, was a consultant to the FDA from 1987 to 1990, served 10 years as a member of the Indiana Controlled Substances Advisory Committee, and co-authored numerous scientific papers and contributed to numerous text books.

He was a member of St Thomas Aquinas Center, Catholic Academy of Sciences USA, Knight of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, American Society for Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, American Institute of Chemist, Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care, Collegium Internationale Neuro-Psychopharmacologicum, American Council on Science and Health, Royal Society of Chemistry, Purdue University Presidents Council, Purdue Reamer Club, and John Purdue Club. Dr Maickel was accepted into the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology in 1970 and was a Fellow Emeritus at the time of his death.

He enjoyed golf, trains, reading, travel, gardening, photography, and college athletics. Many of his colleagues enjoyed the ‘fruits of his labors’ each summer as he often shared his varieties of hot peppers and tomatoes.

He married Lois Pivonka on September 8, 1956, in Ellinwood, KS.

He leaves behind wife, two daughters, Nancy Maickel Ward (husband: Michael) of Lebanon, IN and Carolyn Maickel Anderson of Gurnee, IL, and six grandchildren, Matthew, Brian, and Julie Ward and Molly, Erik, and Clark Anderson. Memorials can be made to the Purdue Foundation (please note in the Memo, Maickel Memorial Fund) and sent to Linda Yelton, Development Office, Purdue University School of Pharmacy, 575 Stadium Mall Drive, West Lafayette, IN 47907.