HMS Biochemist Karnovsky Dies

Manfred Karnovsky, a biochemistry researcher and instructor and a member of the Harvard Medical School (HMS) faculty for 50 years, died last Thursday at Mount Auburn Hospital. He was 80.

During his long career, he made important contributions to the studies of white blood cells and the molecular factors that affect sleep.

A native of Johannesburg, South Africa, Karnovsky was previously the chair of the Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology at HMS.

Karnovsky's Harvard legacy will live on in more ways than one. His will establishes the Manfred Karnovsky Fellowship, which will provide support to graduate students working in the medical sciences.

He is survived by his wife, Ann; a son, Daniel, of Boston; a brother, Morris, of Newton; a sister, Helen, of Sydney, Australia; and two grandchildren.

Memorial services are planned for the spring.