It is my grief to hear that your father Norman Samuel Radin has passed away on last month January 21st. I would like to send my letter to Norm in heaven.
Dear Dr Radin, my mentor in the United States
I joined Norm’s Lab at University of Michigan, as a post-doc in the summer of 1985. Dr Kishimoto, who was a professor of Johns Hopkins University and an early member of Norm’s Lab in 1970’s, recommended me to go Ann Arbor. Norm asked me to synthesize a prototype of glucosylceramide synthase inhibitor, PDMP (mixture of four steroisomers) and separate the optical isomers to identify active form. After fighting for 6 months to isolate the optically pure isomer, I was able to demonstrate that only D-threo (1R., 2R) form was the active isomer in Journal Lipid Research in 1987. This is my first paper in this research field. So, Norm, you are the true mentor for my present research career.
10 years ago, I visited your place Palo Alto and stayed in your apartment for 3 nights. We enjoyed walking, talking, dinner and visiting your son Lon house. I remember the tastes of well cooked eggs (scramble or sunny side up?) banana and coffee in the morning. You gave me a Native Indian Sand Art, the article left by Norma. That picture was the dance of four Indians for curing any pains and ill. I keep this in my office. Now I recall these our happy memories.
I enjoyed very much our versatile scientific discussions over 25 years. I would like to continue my progress reports to you from deep in my heart.
Jin
Sincerely,
Feb. 9th, 2013
Jin-ichi Inokuchi, Ph.D
Professor
Division of Glycopathology
Institute of Molecular Biomembranes and Glycobiology