In memory of Robert 'Bob' Brubaker: A legacy of scientific discovery and mentorship
It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of MGI Professor Emeritus Robert "Bob" Brubaker, a beloved husband, esteemed professor, and dedicated mentor. Brubaker’s journey in academia began with a B.A. from the University of Delaware in 1956, followed by an M.A. from George Washington University in 1959, and culminated in a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago in 1964.
Brubaker’s illustrious career was spent at Michigan State University, where he was a proud and avid Spartan. His teaching and research attracted bright minds from around the globe to East Lansing, Michigan, where they had the privilege of studying under his guidance. Our current department chair, Victor DiRita, worked in Brubaker’s lab as an undergraduate student.
“We called him “The Professor” because he just had that aura, right down to the pipe, which of course in those days he could smoke in the building,” said DiRita. “He loved science and the discovery process, and he passed that enthusiasm on to the people who worked in his lab.”
His research was on Yersinia pestis, the bacterium that causes plague, and he had an international reputation as a leading researcher in this field. Among other aspects of this microbe, he was fascinated by the observation that it would stop growing and begin spewing out proteins when cultivated with low levels of calcium. This “low calcium response” ultimately became the basis for understanding a critical mechanism used not just by Yersinia pestis but by many other pathogenic bacteria as well to deliver protein payloads into cells of infected animals and people. While his work was of a very fundamental nature, he also translated his findings into experimental vaccines active against plague.
Bob enjoyed sharing his unique perspectives on both science and life, which were always enlightening and enriching, His was a life of consequence, and his memory will forever be a blessing to all who knew him.
Rest in peace, Professor Brubaker. Your legacy inspires and guides us.
