On the passing of Sosamma Berger
To our School of Medicine community,
I am writing to share the sad news that Sosamma "Suzy" Berger, PhD, assistant professor emerita of medicine, passed away on Oct. 19 at age 85.
Suzy was an accomplished researcher who spearheaded advances in cancer biology, basic cellular metabolism and DNA repair. Born in Kerala, India, Suzy emigrated to the U.S. to pursue her passion for science. She earned a PhD in 1968 from Hahnemann Medical College, where she met and married Nathan Berger, MD, former dean of Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, who passed last year. Throughout her career, she authored numerous publications and served as a mentor to countless trainees.
Early in her career, Suzy helped Professor Oliver Lowry develop the assay for protein determination that Nate then helped her refine to study nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) levels. This led Nate to the concept of NAD-less death and our current Poly (ADP-ribose) inhibitors. In her spare time—whenever Nate wanted to celebrate something—it was Suzy's cooking that met the challenge, whether it was for student picnics, family gatherings or faculty awards.
"Suzy was a pioneer," said Sanford Markowitz, MD, PhD, the Ingalls Professor of Cancer Genetics. "She was an accomplished woman scientist at a time when those were rare and, together with her husband Nate, one of the progenitors in describing Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase as a target in cancer. Her grace, warmth, smile, generosity of nature, interpersonal insight and intelligence made invaluable contributions that we all continue to benefit from. She will be sorely missed by all who were privileged to know her."
"Dr. Sosamma Berger was not only a great scientist, but also an amazing mother and wife, and was always genuinely interested in hearing about our personal lives and endeavors," shared Brenda Cooper, MD, professor in the School of Medicine's Division of Hematology and Oncology. "We will miss her spirit and many kindnesses."
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Nathan A. Berger, MD Scientific Enrichment and Opportunity Program Endowment Fund, a program established at Case Western Reserve at Suzy’s request in honor of her late husband that supports education and opportunity in science and medicine.
Sincerely,
Stan Gerson, MD
Dean, CWRU School of Medicine
Director, National Center for Regenerative Medicine
