1924
Sidney
2014
Sidney Ochs
June 30, 1924 — December 12, 2014
Dr. Sidney Ochs
Prominent neurophysiologist Dr. Sidney Ochs died on December 12, 2014 at 90 years of age.
Born on June 30, 1924 in Fall River, Massachusetts, he spent most of his formative years in Chicago, Illinois. He qualified for the WWII ASTP program, earned his PhD at the University of Chicago, and was a Postdoctoral Fellow at the California Institute of Technology. Appointed to the Department of Physiology at the University of Texas in Galveston, he subsequently joined the Department of Physiology at Indiana University Medical School in Indianapolis in 1958. After becoming Emeritus Professor of Physiology and Biophysics in 1993, he continued his work and maintained an active laboratory for many additional years. During his career he contributed over 300 publications on various aspects of the nervous system, including three books. The text book, Elements of Neurophysiology was published in 1965, his seminal monograph, Axoplasmic Transport and its Relation to Other Nerve Functions came out in 1982 and A History of Nerve Functions: From Animal Spirits to Molecular Mechanisms (affectionately known in the family as THAT'S SOME NERVE!) was published in 2004.
His scientific discoveries spanned from cortical spreading depression to his groundbreaking work on axoplasmic transport, showing how materials move through the axon of the nerve cell. Unlike most cells that have a roughly spherical shape, nerve cells also have a long process - the axon - along which an electrical signal is conducted to meet another cell. Dr. Ochs constructed a system to measure the flow of material like proteins from the cell body to the end of the axon, a distance of up to several feet in some nerves. His work led to finding a relatively fast and constant rate of transport. He was proud to cite the number: 410 mm per day! He also elaborated a mechanism whereby materials such as proteins and even organelles like mitochondria are carried on a "railroad car" apparatus in which the rails themselves were protein fibers (tubulin). His habits as a scientist were prodigious: he conducted experiments by day, interspersed with writing, often employing two secretaries to keep up with his drafts. Interestingly, currently axoplasmic transport is recognized as an important factor in Alzheimer's disease.
Other accomplishments during his distinguished career at the Indiana University Medical School include co-initiating and chairing the Medical Biophysics Program, founding the Journal of Neurobiology in 1969, where he acted as Editor-in-Chief for the first nine years, and serving as President of The John Shaw Billings Society for the History of Medicine in Indiana for many years. In his position at the medical school, Dr. Ochs taught thousands of students who became doctors and professors.
Outside of scientific endeavors, he studied history, world culture, languages (Latin, Greek, Russian, Yiddish, French, a smattering of Spanish, many augmented with a formidable collection of foreign language comic books such as Asterix and Tin Tin), and most deeply, history of medicine. A lifelong learner and scholar, he cherished the knowledge contained in his comprehensive library. In recent years, he immersed himself in the study of the subconscious, and was framing a treatise to present his hypotheses.
Family members have been touched when doctors, colleagues, and other friends shared memories of his positive influence on their lives and careers. In addition to a keen intellect, he had a deep understanding of human nature and chose to see the best in everyone. Those that knew him well know his was a life well lived in the service of others.
The family would like to thank some of the many doctors and friends who have been invaluable over the years, including, but in no way limited to Dr. Richard Bihrle, Dr. Eric Williams, Dr. Michael Johnson, Dr. Timothy Sutton, and many others on the staff at University Hospital; also Richard and Francine Friedman, CS Hui, Steve Kempson, Dick Bolin, Liz Markey, and Amber Wolverton.
He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 58 years, Bess (Ratner) Ochs and his son-in-law, Curtis Ross. Survivors include his loving children, Rachel Ochs-Ross, Raymond Ochs and wife Jessica, Susan Ochs Panfil and husband David, and loving grandchildren Meredith Witten, Michael Panfil, Rebecca Ochs-Mercer, Matthew Panfil and Sarah Panfil, and great-grandson Conner Witten. He is also survived by his loving sister Shirley Simon and her husband Norbert and their sons Fred and Mark.
A calling will be held Thursday, Dec. 18, 2014 at 7 p.m. until 9 p.m at the Aaron Ruben Nelson Mortuary 11411 North Michigan Road with funeral services on Friday, Dec. 19, 2014 at 1:00 p.m.
Prominent neurophysiologist Dr. Sidney Ochs died on December 12, 2014 at 90 years of age.
Born on June 30, 1924 in Fall River, Massachusetts, he spent most of his formative years in Chicago, Illinois. He qualified for the WWII ASTP program, earned his PhD at the University of Chicago, and was a Postdoctoral Fellow at the California Institute of Technology. Appointed to the Department of Physiology at the University of Texas in Galveston, he subsequently joined the Department of Physiology at Indiana University Medical School in Indianapolis in 1958. After becoming Emeritus Professor of Physiology and Biophysics in 1993, he continued his work and maintained an active laboratory for many additional years. During his career he contributed over 300 publications on various aspects of the nervous system, including three books. The text book, Elements of Neurophysiology was published in 1965, his seminal monograph, Axoplasmic Transport and its Relation to Other Nerve Functions came out in 1982 and A History of Nerve Functions: From Animal Spirits to Molecular Mechanisms (affectionately known in the family as THAT'S SOME NERVE!) was published in 2004.
His scientific discoveries spanned from cortical spreading depression to his groundbreaking work on axoplasmic transport, showing how materials move through the axon of the nerve cell. Unlike most cells that have a roughly spherical shape, nerve cells also have a long process - the axon - along which an electrical signal is conducted to meet another cell. Dr. Ochs constructed a system to measure the flow of material like proteins from the cell body to the end of the axon, a distance of up to several feet in some nerves. His work led to finding a relatively fast and constant rate of transport. He was proud to cite the number: 410 mm per day! He also elaborated a mechanism whereby materials such as proteins and even organelles like mitochondria are carried on a "railroad car" apparatus in which the rails themselves were protein fibers (tubulin). His habits as a scientist were prodigious: he conducted experiments by day, interspersed with writing, often employing two secretaries to keep up with his drafts. Interestingly, currently axoplasmic transport is recognized as an important factor in Alzheimer's disease.
Other accomplishments during his distinguished career at the Indiana University Medical School include co-initiating and chairing the Medical Biophysics Program, founding the Journal of Neurobiology in 1969, where he acted as Editor-in-Chief for the first nine years, and serving as President of The John Shaw Billings Society for the History of Medicine in Indiana for many years. In his position at the medical school, Dr. Ochs taught thousands of students who became doctors and professors.
Outside of scientific endeavors, he studied history, world culture, languages (Latin, Greek, Russian, Yiddish, French, a smattering of Spanish, many augmented with a formidable collection of foreign language comic books such as Asterix and Tin Tin), and most deeply, history of medicine. A lifelong learner and scholar, he cherished the knowledge contained in his comprehensive library. In recent years, he immersed himself in the study of the subconscious, and was framing a treatise to present his hypotheses.
Family members have been touched when doctors, colleagues, and other friends shared memories of his positive influence on their lives and careers. In addition to a keen intellect, he had a deep understanding of human nature and chose to see the best in everyone. Those that knew him well know his was a life well lived in the service of others.
The family would like to thank some of the many doctors and friends who have been invaluable over the years, including, but in no way limited to Dr. Richard Bihrle, Dr. Eric Williams, Dr. Michael Johnson, Dr. Timothy Sutton, and many others on the staff at University Hospital; also Richard and Francine Friedman, CS Hui, Steve Kempson, Dick Bolin, Liz Markey, and Amber Wolverton.
He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 58 years, Bess (Ratner) Ochs and his son-in-law, Curtis Ross. Survivors include his loving children, Rachel Ochs-Ross, Raymond Ochs and wife Jessica, Susan Ochs Panfil and husband David, and loving grandchildren Meredith Witten, Michael Panfil, Rebecca Ochs-Mercer, Matthew Panfil and Sarah Panfil, and great-grandson Conner Witten. He is also survived by his loving sister Shirley Simon and her husband Norbert and their sons Fred and Mark.
A calling will be held Thursday, Dec. 18, 2014 at 7 p.m. until 9 p.m at the Aaron Ruben Nelson Mortuary 11411 North Michigan Road with funeral services on Friday, Dec. 19, 2014 at 1:00 p.m.
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