"Don Wiley was a revered scientist because of his calm commitment, his experimental audacity and tenacity, and his subtle scholarship. We knew Don for years, even taught him a bit of basic virology (but he taught us more). His monumental achievements in both virology and immunology will live on as his legacy to future generations - the shame is that we will have no further fruits from the ruminations of this special mind."

  Alice S. Huang and David Baltimore
  California Institute of Technology

"When I had resigned myself to defeat during a difficult period during my PHD (nearly twenty years ago now), it was a chance meeting with Don at a Conference that gave me the inspiration and confidence to persevere. Don, thanks, I will never forget."

  Carl Gibson
  Melbourne, Australia

"Don came every couple of years or so to meetings here at Banbury, and his intellect, passion for science and his great personality were always in evidence."

  Jan Witkowski
  Banbury Center, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory

"I met Don for the first time in 1985/6 when I visited the lab to give a seminar describing our work on peptide recognition by class I restricted CTL. It was the most exciting and memorable experience. Firstly Don was a marvellous host. His sense of humour and enthusiasm were immediately infectious. From the moment we began our discussion I understood everything he explained to me...I had the slightly euphoric feeling that I was meeting a really special scientist. I soon realised that the folk in his lab had the same quality. After my talk, a large group sat down together, and Pam Bjorkman described the problem that they had at that time with the structure: there appeared to be three strands, one of them unaccounted for. A discussion followed without anyone quite daring to say what was in many minds, and then Don said in his laconic style 'well, perhaps it's peptide'. Don was a special scientist and a wonderful man. He radiated integrity and inspired all sorts of people. He was the sort of person you always looked forward to meeting again."

  Alain Townsend
  Weatherall Institute, Oxford, UK

"I am a contemporary colleague, and a great admirer and of Don Wiley. I first met Don in the summer of 1971. We were both working on crystallography of some of the first protein structure determinations. I had already followed Don's work on the 'huge' allosteric enzyme ATCase with Bill Lipscomb at Harvard and was thrilled to meet him. I had worked on the protease trypsin with Dick Dickerson in California. The Cold Spring Harbor symposium of Quantitative Biology that focussed on the structures of proteins at a critical time in structural biology, brought us together. I loved Don's tremendous candor, his great sense of faith in the future, and his tremendously positive view of what was ahead. It was a critical time in the history of protein crystallography, for at that meeting there were already one or two protein structures that were completed and several more were in the pipeline. There was a strange ambiance of wonder if this was already the end of the chapter. Now we could all see what protein molecules looked like. Yes there were a variety of substructures, shapes and configurations, - but was this already too complex in its contortions? Were the basic rules already here before us? This was a real and powerful question for all of us after and at that meeting! Don was in no doubt that there were ways of uncovering biological function by seeing molecular structure. Don was already a reluctant visionary!

We kept in close touch over the years though from opposite coasts, and I met Don many times at scientific meetings. This was especially true when structural biology was seeking to develop the techniques we needed. I especially remember one week-long meeting in Sicily, at the Erice conference center, high on the mountain top. We had a 6 hour round-trip to the beach (the only one of the entire week!) near Palermo, where Don's great enthusiasm for life, and for finding and following, and filtering, the 'fun' in science and life was for me a great direction finder in science. Don's razor sharp critical insights were tremendous as a means of best placing efforts. Don saw each single concept from many different perspectives, from insightful genius, to funny or incongruous. Don's critical thinking led us to the meadows ahead in science, and the next horizons. I loved sharing Don's freedom to question the roots of our existence, and to reexamine the most basic premises without compromise. From 1977 to 1982 I was a member of the BBCB grant review panel of the NIH. When the question came up as to whom we could recruit to review proposals that were increasingly pressed with efforts that used high resolution methods including protein crystallography, Don was highest on the list to fill that important role. I was thrilled when Don committed to a term on this review panel. I got to see Don three times a year, - for several days each time, for several years. I greatly enjoyed the way we could revisit ideas and concepts, - recalling how we had calibrated them a few months before, and project how we could best represent the strengths in someone's contributions in grant proposals. And I especially enjoyed closing an evening in the best company with Don. Don was a tremendous supporter of structural biology at all levels, and was ultimately responsible for a large part of the success of the field through some hard times in the grant review periods.

In 1997 I remember my thrill and amazement to see Don sitting outside the cafe at the Denver airport, vast in its expanse, sipping a soda and reading a manuscript. We had a few hours lay over between flights. These precious moments with a close friend and colleague reminded me of how much I would value the synergy of open honesty in the search for truth in science, and in life. Don had published the structural insights into the major histocompatibility complex. We analyzed the best and the most difficult science, and again looked to the future with the kind of acumen that I felt we all should seek constantly. How rare Don's ability to tempt to turn to the next page, and try to forsee the next chapter. Don was such a profound and warm, -always lively and humorous colleague. As we parted to flights on the opposite side of the continent my life had once more been enriched. Once again, Don had reset the scale for what one could hope for in the dialogue between natures scientists.

Most recently, at Don's instigation, I joined him in a scientific review at St Judes, on October 16th 2001. Don, as chair of the structural biology review, and long time scientific advisor to St Jude's, was eloquent, tremendously constructive and supportive, and generously helpful, and especially sensitive to the younger members of the community at St Judes. That evening was a special time with so many memorable moments of conversations around the table. Don was tremendously looking forward to his vacation in Iceland with his wife and family, to take place after his next visit to St Judes in just a couple of weeks. For Don's family, I add my own most deeply felt personal support. Don will always remain a scientific giant. As a scientific contemporary of Don's, I lost, and we all lost a truly great colleague and a great friend, and a wonderful human. Far too soon cut off these moments.

Don, you so greatly enriched my life. For all my life I will miss you Don."

  Robert M. Stroud
  Professor of Biochemistry and Biophysics, The University of California in San Francisco

"I met Don as an impressionable undergraduate. Don was larger than life for everyone who knew him; for me he was a giant. Many of my most memorable experiences in college were spent in Don's office. Our discussions were wide-ranging- from science to literature, movies and single malt scotch. I will miss his humor, curiosity, competitiveness, maniacal pursuit of intellectual rigor, and his warmth. Goodbye Don."

  Josh Lehrer-Graiwer
  UCSF Department of Medicine

"I had a potluck dinner with Don the week before his trip to Memphis in November 2001. He talked eagerly about taking William and Lara to Graceland, the home of Elvis Presley, and the family's forthcoming year in Iceland. He waxed enthusiastically about how the limitless geothermal resources of Reykjavik expand a society's view of what is possible. I mentioned that I was going to teach for the first time in the spring 2002 semester, a seminar on international law, far afield from his domain, and was wrestling with how to approach the mountain of information that I wished to impart to the students in the relatively short span of a semester. Don offered the observation that there are two approaches to teaching: impart the necessary information for the student to succeed or inspire the student by communicating how fascinating you find the subject. Don said that he had tried both approaches at different times and that personally he found the later approach far more satisfactory -- both for the teacher and student."

  Jeff Meller
  Shady Hill School

"When I moved into Gibbs lab, now sadly gone, I inherited part of Don Wiley's old filing cabinet. I found a beautiful report by Don on multiple isomorphous replacment. It was written as a graduate student, it was very thorough and well though out. An example of his depth. Next I came across an 8 by 10 drawing of a maze in bright orange ink. In the center of this maze, was the word, ATCase. ATCase was the subject of Don's thesis work and a very tough problem in those pre-area detector, SCAN10, SCAN12 days. The great thing about it was that there was no way in or out of this maze! I put this maze in my ATCase thesis talk, because I thought this was an example of his great sense of humor.

Don had an amazing quality of intellectual openness. You always met Don on a level playing ground. Whatever the question at hand, Don would talk to you about the facts. He always listened, and although he was strong minded, he did not talk down to you. Sort of the opposite of a stuffy, defensive posture that sometimes arises in academic people of note. The ideas had to survive on their own merit without any ego infusion on his part.

He gave the best talks with colored markers I have ever seen! His colored markers put most Powerpoint presentations to shame.

Although he was a structural biologist, he was first a scientist. Like Professor Lipscomb, his graduate mentor, he was a scientist who used crystallography in his research. When I heard him talk, it was always so inspiring. An example of what a scientist-crystallographer should be doing. I would leave feeling inspired to work harder, to try be a better scientist.

I miss him, and wish him well."

  Kurt L. Krause
  University of Houston

"I had the privilege to work for Dr. Robert Webster and Dr. Virginia Hinshaw at St. Jude Hospital from 1980-1983. I never met Dr. Wiley but most of our research seemed to somehow revolve around the landmark paper by Wiley, Wilson and Skehel where the 3D structure of the influenza virus was determined using x-ray crystallography. I was very upset when I heard about Dr. Wiley's disappearance. I called Dr. Webster shortly after I heard to let him know how sorry I was. I mentioned that I thought Dr. Wiley was one of the few researchers in the world that Dr. Webster was in awe of. He said that was right, he was in awe of Dr. Wiley. After going to the Harvard web site, I realized that Dr. Wiley's research and Dr. Webster's research had paralleled for the last twenty years. I know Dr. Webster will miss his toughest competitor in the lab and on the mountains. The world is not often blessed with people like Dr. Wiley and Dr. Webster and I feel honored that I was able to work with them directly and indirectly."

  Kathryn Newton Rowley
  St. Jude Technologist 1980-1983

"I had the honor and privilege of being Don and Steve's computer system manager for eleven and a half years. Don was a really wonderful mentor for me in a quiet, unobtrusive way (believe it or not!). He gave various pieces of advice: "start reading the New York Times" and: "it's never a good time to have children- if you want to have a child, just do it" are two of my favorites. But my all time favorite piece of advice came when I was trying to decide between buying a Saturn sedan and a Honda Del Sol convertible. Anyone who knows Don will know instantly what he advised me to do. I took his advice and bought the convertible, and have never regretted it! These days I think of him often when I drive around in it, and especially when I take the top off!

Another 'Don story' I love involves his younger children. I happened to be in the hallway one day when Katrin came for a visit. William was about three or four and Laura was still in a baby carriage. Don folded himself down so that he was squatting at William's level and give him a big hug and kiss. I was very touched to see him be so publicly tender with his small child.

As a person who can sometimes be too serious, one of the lessons I will always take with me from Don's example is that you can be smart and intellectual and playful and fun too. Don nurtured, encouraged, and supported both those sides of my personality, and I will be forever grateful to him for that.

My thoughts and prayers go out to Katrin, Don's four children, and all of his family.

DCW, I miss you!"

  Sarah L. Duncan
  Senior UNIX Engineer, ArQule, Inc.

"I met Don when I was a graduate student and he was a very eager Assistant Professor. At the time, I remember how impressed I was with his commitment to science and his insightful (and often very direct) criticism. Later, I had the privilege of working with Don on the scientific advisory board (SAB) of 3-Dimensional Pharmaceuticals. This role was perfect for Don. The members of the company could be assured that, under Don's guidance, the SAB would do its best to point out the progress that had been made, but also the areas where improvements were crucial. Don was often a very harsh critic about what really made a difference and, importantly, applied this view most directly to himself and his own work. His determination helped turn 'crystallography' into 'structural biology' where biological insights from structures could guide fields in entirely new directions and push the structural questions to the next level. I miss him tremendously as a friend and as a sounding board. He was a great inspiration to me and I know to many other people."

  Jeremy Berg
  Department of Biophysics and Biophysical Chemistry
  Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

"I worked as a waitress in Harvard Square, where Don, Katrin, William, and Laura were regular customers. I loved waiting on them, and enjoyed many friendly chats. On another occasion I met his older son Craig. Don Wiley was a very down to earth man.

Rest in peace."

  Monica

"My comments about Don mirror everyone else's, re his enthusiasm and the memorable conversation, but on a different subject. I was an immunochemist by training and loved talking to Don as another structural immunologist who appreciated immunology at both the clinical and the molecular levels as much as I did. But those conversations were not the ones that inspired me as much as a single conversation with him about children. It was during the time when he had recently met Katrin and was learning Icelandic. We came round to the subject of children and I commented that it was very difficult to do science and have children. He said that he would never have given up one for the other, that 'having children made life worth living in ways that nothing else could and at times when nothing else would'. I have been looking for a way to let his children know that he felt that way, but I have been in Neuroscience for some time now, and only recently came upon this site. At the time, his comments left me deep in thought. As a graduate student, I had not been particularly successful in keeping something as low maintenance as even a hamster. But it occurred to me that, if he could be a Professor at Harvard, and have, not one, but 2 families, that maybe I could try this having children thing for myself. So, I did, and he was right."

  Candace Strang
  Neuroscience Department
  Baylor College of Medicine

"The last time I met Don was at breakfast at CIBA House in London. He was there with his wife Katrin. We had breakfast together twice. We talked at length over the spartan CIBA house breakfasts about science, family, mutual friends, and Iceland. As always, Don was a warm, interesting, and interested partner in conversation. A true gentleman who is missed by all who knew him."

  Paul M. Wassarman
  MCDB
  Mount Sinai Medical School

There are more quotes about Don on a Harvard Medical School memorial page.