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A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Louis Pascal Mallavia
Louis Pascal Mallavia; dear friend, colleague, and a leader in The American Society for Rickettsiology, died of cancer on Friday, May 29, 1998. He was 61. Lou was born to Florentino and Maria Camporredoneo Mallavia on March 28, 1937, in the farming community of Shoshone, Idaho. Lou's rural upbringing by Basque parents was instrumental in forming his strong work ethic and compassionate nature. After graduating from Shoshone High School in 1955, Lou went on to study at Idaho State University, where he obtained a bachelor's degree in microbiology in 1959. Lou also married Susie A Jenson in October of the same year. The newlyweds went to Lawrence, Kansas, where Lou pursued his graduate education at the University of Kansas. He earned a Masters degree in 1963, and a Ph.D. in microbiology in 1965 under David Paretsky's mentorship. In 1965, Lou accepted a professorship in the Microbiology Department at Washington State University in Pullman, WA, where he spent 33 years teaching and doing research. He also served as chair of the microbiology department for the past six years. Lou was a very active member of our society, where he served as Councilor-at-Large (1988-1989), Vice President (1989-1991) and President (1991-1992).Lou's contributions to education, microbiology and the international scientific community are numerous. His name appears on no fewer than 66 research articles and book chapters. Although Lou published in many areas of biology, he is best known for his meritorious research on the biology of Coxiella burnetii. His work with "Q" covered a wide range of topics including genetics, physiology, ultrastructure, and the host immune response to the pathogen. Some examples of his groundbreaking work include the discovery and characterization of plasmids in C. burnetii, transformation of Rochalimaea, and the molecular analysis of several potential virulence determinants from Coxiella. Lou's record of grantsmanship was exceptional; his grants from NIH totaled several million dollars, and he served on numerous NIH Study Sections. Lou, was co-inventor of a PCR-based detection kit for Coxiella; a diagnostic tool that was billed as one of the top 100 patents for 1990, by R & D Magazine. In recognition of his outstanding contributions to microbiology, Lou was elected as a Fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology in 1997. Lou was also an excellent teacher. He could take potentially "dry" subjects and make them interesting and enjoyable for students. His Mortar Board Award for Outstanding Faculty Member in 1998, bears testament to his exceptional abilities in the classroom. Possibly the greatest gift Lou gave to science was his mentorship of over thirty graduate students and postdocs, all of whom consider him to be a special part of their personal and professional lives.
In spite of Lou's remarkable talent and success as a scientist, he was a consistently humble person. He was generous with his time, exceptionally patient, and quick with a smile. Whenever asked how he was doing, his typical response was "wonderful", in spite of the situation. Few people attain Lou's professional stature; even fewer come close to being such a wonderful person.
Lou is survived by his wife, Susan Mallavia of Moscow ID; three sons, Donald L. Mallavia of Spokane WA, David F. Mallavia of Pocatello ID, and Wayne E. Mallavia of Pascagoula MS; a daughter, Connie M. Mallavia of Spokane; and three grandchildren.
Memorials can be made to Whitman home Health and Hospice (102 W. Main St., Pullman WA 99163) or to Louis P. Mallavia Memorial Fund (Department of Microbiology, Washington State University, Pullman WA 99164).
Michael Minnick