Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine
1941- 2006
Passed by the IU Indianapolis Faculty Council at their meeting on December 5, 2006.
For 28 years Professor Godfrey “Goff” Tunnicliff served Indiana University School of Medicine-Evansville and the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology with distinction.
Born in 1941 in Malvern, Worcestershire, Great Britain, he was UK-educated and earned a BSc in Biochemistry from the University College of Wales (1964), an MSc in Pharmacology (1967) and a PhD in Biochemistry (1969) both from the University of Southampton. Goff received postdoctoral training, first in sunny California at the City of Hope Medical Center with noted neurochemist Eugene Roberts, and subsequently, in Canada, at the University of Saskatchewan under the auspices of J.D. Wood. In 1972, he was appointed Assistant Professor of Biochemistry at the University of Saskatchewan and two years later moved to the Clinical Research Institute of Montreal, assuming the Directorship of the Laboratory of Neurochemistry and an Assistant Professorship of Biochemistry in the Department of Medicine at the University of Montreal.
The defining turn in Dr. Tunnicliff's scientific career was when he moved his young family in 1978 to Evansville, IN to become Assistant Professor of Biochemistry at the, then so-called, Evansville Center for Medical Education, or ECME for short, as he liked to refer to. Moving up the academic ladder and becoming Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in 1986, he taught 28 classes of first and second year medical students, while leading a vibrant research program in neurochemistry. Prolific Professor Tunnicliff published 89 refereed scientific papers, 17 reviews, five book-chapters, and edited four books, mostly in the area of his specialty, i.e. central nervous system biochemistry and pharmacology. He made contributions to the understanding of the role of GABA in the brain, and particularly to the concept of deficient GABA function in epilepsy. One of his experimental models was the catfish brain (order siluriformes), and few would argue with him being the preeminent authority on catfish brain metabolism and neurotransmitter regulation. His research was supported by the Huntington’s Chorea Association, the American Heart Association, and the National Institutes of Health. In addition to his original work, Professor Tunnicliff was a talented and meticulous reviewer for many scientific journals and served as a member of the Editorial Advisory Boards of Neurochemistry International, Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology and the International Journal of Biochemistry.
Professor Tunnicliff was a most versatile teacher and mentor. Goff was a master at "rolling with the punches", taking on the jobs of Course Director, Neurobiology (1979-1984); Director, Clinical Biochemistry (1984-1994); Course Director, Biostatistics (1994-2005); Course Director, Medical Biochemistry (1995-2005), and also that of frequent guest lecturer in Medical Pharmacology and Neurobiology. Those privy to student evaluations frequently noted comments such as "best professor at the Center", "…short, sweet and to the point" etc, notwithstanding using only the blackboard and an overhead projector (and that in the age of PowerPoint mania). In the laboratory, Goff was mentor to numerous Summer Medical Student Research and Undergraduate Student Research projects. Oh, how he loved to teach them the tricks of the trade! More often then not, their reward was co-authorship of a scientific publication that set the students on a stronger course for future success in the sciences.
Goff, the ultimate unassuming and polite colleague served effectively on many Center committees, most prominently as chair of the local Primary Committee. He cheerfully shepherded junior faculty along their paths to tenure and promotion. Perhaps Goff will be remembered most by his faculty colleagues, trainees, undergraduate and medical students as a collaborator and mentor whose efforts helped them to see their names on scientific publications that might otherwise never have appeared in print.
On a personal note, Goff always was the good-natured, liberal Brit, skeptic, feline fancying, enthusiastic soccer connoisseur, and a terrifically witty storyteller who always enjoyed a gentle argument for the give-and-take of ideas and words to express them. He was not above having a few laughs and a cold pint of ale while sitting around the kitchen table and discussing politics and other issues of the day.
Sadly and ironically, Dr. Tunnicliff who devoted considerable scientific effort during his career to better understand neurodegenerative diseases fell ill with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis or Lou Gehrig’s disease. Although reluctant to give up his daily routine and his colleagues at the Center, the disease forced him into early retirement in 2005. He fought an intelligent and courageous battle to the end, but never lost his sense of humor.
It is a privilege and honor to be among those with whom Goff shared his wisdom, his kindness and his enthusiasm and love for science. Farewell friend, wherever your journey will take you.
Prepared By:
John F. Schaeffer, Ph.D.
Beat Raess, Ph.D.
Carla J. Aldrich, Ph.D.
Dale W. Saxon, Ph.D.
Gattadahalli Seetharamaiah, Ph.D.
IUSM – Evansville