Kurt G. Hofer, PhD, radiation biologist and educator, peacefully passed away on Sunday, Sept. 20, 2015. He was 76.
Kurt was born in Austria on March 2, 1939. He earned a Ph.D. degree from the University of Vienna in 1965. In 1966, Kurt and his wife, Maria (Ridy), moved to Boston for a postdoctoral fellowship at Tufts University Medical School. He later accepted a position as a radiation biologist at Ohio State University and in 1971, he accepted a faculty position in the Department of Biological Science at Florida State University, where he remained for more than 30 years until his retirement in 2003.
A prolific researcher and scholar, Kurt studied the effects of oxygen mimetic drugs combined with radiation and hyperthermia to improve therapeutic outcome. He also worked on the development of compounds to enhance radiation effects. Further, it is especially appropriate for this special issue on Auger emitters to focus on Kurt’s contributions to the radiobiology of Auger emitters. His pioneering work on Auger emitters, particularly 125I, established the toxicity of 125I decay. By detailing the localized radiation damage to radiation sensitive targets in cells by the decay of 125I, Kurt created a foundation for future Auger emitter research and clinical trials. Even today, Kurt’s thoughts on nuclear recoil from the decay of 125I ignite lively discussion among Auger emitter researchers.
A long-time collaborator and friend, Martin Schneiderman, who knew Kurt for nearly 40 years, writes that Kurt was a story teller who worked at his lectures until they told a story that students were able to learn. Kurt’s devotion to teaching won him many teaching awards, including the Robert O. Lawton Distinguished Professor at Florida State University. Kurt’s passion for teaching extended to graduate student training. A former PhD student, Nahid Mivechi writes, “I remember Kurt as being a very supportive and outstanding teacher while I was his graduate student during early 1980s. Kurt was creative and his enthusiasm for radiation biology and scientific research in general has had a great impact on my career as a scientist and I am sure many of his students. Kurt was a great mentor and he will be greatly missed”, sentiments shared by former students, Xiao Lin, Nanette van Loon, Ray Warters and Linda Yasui.
Kurt's zest for life continued into his retirement. In addition to his family (Ridy and his daughters Andrea and Marlise), friends, swimming, gardening, reading and observing nature, he and Ridy also enjoyed the gulf coast, having owned and developed several properties on Cape San Blas in the Florida Panhandle. Martin Schneiderman’s remembrance of Kurt as a loving father, a devoted husband and congenial friend sums up a life lived to the fullest.