In Memoriam by Dr. Autian’s nephew, SOT Member John C. Kapeghian
John Autian, former Dean of the University of Tennessee College of Pharmacy and renowned materials science toxicologist, died on September 4, 2015 at the age of 91. Dr. Autian was born August 20, 1924, of Armenian immigrant parents, Armenouhi Khastian, sole family survivor of the 1915 Armenian Genocide, and Zaker Autian (last name believed to have been Haroutunian but mistakenly recorded as Autian during US Immigration processing), in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He grew up in the Wissinoming district of northeast Philadelphia, attended Frankford High School, and was outstanding in track. During the Second World War, at the age of 17, he enlisted in the US Army and served on active duty for a period of three years. Two of those years were served in the Pacific Theater of Operations with his unit being one of the first to land in Japan at the end of the war.
After returning home, he received his BS (1950) in Pharmacy from Temple University and both his MS (1952) and PhD (1954) in Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of Maryland. After receiving his PhD, he served as a faculty member at Temple, the University of Maryland, and the University of Michigan, before moving on to the University of Texas as an Associate Professor. While at Texas, Dr. Autian established and directed the Drug-Plastic Research Laboratory, focusing on the safety evaluation of plastics in pharmacy practice; this research center was the first of its kind in the US.
In 1967, he was appointed Professor at the University of Tennessee in the Medical Center in Memphis, Tennessee. During this time, he founded the Materials Science Toxicology Research Laboratory within the UT Medical Center and served as its Director while also serving on the faculty of the Colleges of Pharmacy and Dentistry. He was later appointed Dean of the College of Pharmacy and Dean of the Graduate School/Vice Chancellor for Research. He retired from the University in 1986 but remained active as a toxicology consultant in biomaterials research and as a proponent of toxicology education in undergraduate and graduate training programs worldwide.
He accepted a professorship at Texas A&M University in 1986, and in 1987, Dr. Autian became a Senior Science Advisor to a joint US– Saudi Arabian program to help enhance research and graduate training. As a result of this collaboration, he helped establish an environmental toxicology laboratory in Saudi Arabia. During his career, he authored or coauthored over 200 scientific publications in the fields of pharmacology, toxicology, and biomedical materials and contributed to 18 textbooks, including chapters on plastics toxicology in the early editions of Casarett & Doull’s Toxicology, the Basic Science of Poisons.
For his pioneering work with phthalate esters and polymers, he is considered the "Father of Plastics Toxicology," and became a founding member of the Society of Biomaterials, receiving their highest honor, The Clemson Award, in 1978. Dr. Autian also established an annual “Toxicology Education Award” through his Forum for the Advancement of Toxicology consortium. The Society of Toxicology took over the award after several years, and very fittingly, recognized Dr. Autian’s efforts in toxicology education by presenting him the award in 1988. The award was a special recognition for Dr. Autian, who after 31 years in academia, had mentored countless students, postdoctoral associates, and junior collaborators in the art and science of toxicology.
In later years, Dr. Autian spent his time and resources in efforts to help bring biomedical research to Memphis, and in inner-city community service. He traveled extensively to promote education and science and made several trips to Armenia to help in relief efforts after devastating earthquakes and regional conflicts. He was known for his boundless energy and enthusiasm for helping those less fortunate, for his humility, and his generosity. All who knew him appreciated his quick wit, humor, and self-deprecating antics, which often surfaced unexpectedly during his technical presentations and quite expectedly at family gatherings. He was an avid runner and fitness enthusiast, who loved boxing, wrestling, and football. Most of all, he was treasured by his family as an inspirational figure who never lost sight of his humble beginnings. He cared deeply for his family, his Armenian heritage, and humanity.
Dr. John Autian was married to Ginny Langford. In addition to Ginny, he is survived by their son John Zaker “Zak”, daughter-in law Jennifer, and grandson Tyler Christian, of Roswell, Georgia. Other family members include nieces Karen Swartz and Jamie Ward, nephews John Kapeghian and Jerry Sweeney, and several great nieces and nephews.