Dr. Gordon E. Stone

Retired biology professor, Dr. Gordon E. Stone, passed away Wednesday, May 15, 2019.

Dr. Gordon Stone was born in Sioux City, Iowa on July 12, 1933. He received his BA in 1956, his MS in 1958, and his PhD in 1961, all in zoology and all from the University of Iowa. He did postdoctoral research in cell biology at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory from 1961 to 1964 funded by two fellowships: one from the NIH (1961-1963) and one from the US Atomic Energy Commission (1963-1964). He enjoyed the scientific atmosphere of the Oak Ridge National Laboratories, where close colleagues provided the first descriptions of radiation induced DNA damage and DNA repair. Gordon was first author on one of the first reports describing the discovery of DNA in mitochondria. In 1964 he joined the faculty of the Department of Anatomy, University of Colorado Medical School as an Assistant Professor, was promoted to Associate Professor in 1969, and he remained at the CU Medical School until 1972. In that year, he was hired as Professor and Chair of the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Denver. He served as Chair from 1972 until 1980, and again from 1990 until his retirement in 1994.

During his first period as Chair, Gordon transformed Biological Sciences from a strictly teaching-oriented department to a more research and teaching-oriented department through the hiring of young promising researchers. He also launched the PhD graduate program in biology, which facilitated the renewed emphasis on research in the department. After leaving the chair position in 1980, Gordon focused on teaching his favorite course, Immunology, and his cancer-related research program. In 1985, he received a grant from the NIH to study the role of T-lymphocytes in the cell mediated immune response mechanism. Also, in 1985, with the re-design of the General Education Program, Gordon took on the assignment of designing and teaching a course for non-majors, “Molecule to Humankind”. He would receive the first “Core Teaching Award” for his efforts, and he set the precedent of rigorous science courses for non-majors. For his last four years at DU, he again assumed the leadership role as Chair, and was pivotal in instituting an undergraduate recruiting strategy that greatly contributed to the success of the department. His research career resulted in dozens of research publications, contributions to books, and invited presentations and lectures, and was funded by grants from the NIH, the American Cancer Society, the Milheim Foundation for Cancer research, and the Pardee Foundation. Gordon will be remembered as a student-first faculty member, a strong leader, and an excellent mentor to young faculty.

He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Phyllis; son Matthew Stone (Elizabeth), son Bradley Stone (Nicolette), one brother, Gerald Stone, two sisters, Wanda Paulsen and Theresa Bell, one granddaughter, Hannah Stone, and one grandson, Calvin Rabiroff.

He would be honored to have contributions made in his name to fund scholarships for biology students at the University of Denver:

University of Denver  Dept. of Biological Sciences  2190 E. Iliff Ave.  Denver, CO  Please include ""in memory of Gordon Stone"" on the information line

Thank you to Dr. James Fogleman and Dr. Robert Dores, both of the faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Denver, for most of the above.

A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.