Ronald J. Tallarida, pharmacology expert at Temple, 79
Ronald J. Tallarida, 79, of West Deptford, a renowned pharmacologist and expert on drug combinations, died of lung cancer Friday, Sept. 23, at his home.
Ronald J. Tallarida, 79, of West Deptford, a renowned pharmacologist and expert on drug combinations, died of lung cancer Friday, Sept. 23, at his home.
He spent his career, spanning more than five decades, as a pharmacology professor at Temple University's School of Medicine. He retired in 2013 and remained a professor emeritus.
As a researcher and the author of 11 textbooks, Dr. Tallarida's cutting-edge work focused on the theoretical and practical applications of mathematical pharmacology.
Dr. Tallarida developed models that describe the interactions of multiple drugs when taken together. Those models are used by researchers to create medicines to combat a variety of pain-related symptoms.
He "literally wrote the book on drug interactions," said Larry R. Kaiser, dean of the Lewis Katz School of Medicine and Temple University Health System president and CEO. His work also "put Temple on the map" as a leading research center on drug abuse, he said.
Dr. Tallarida held four patents and published nearly 300 papers. He was an investigator in Temple's Center for Substance Abuse Research.
He was equally passionate about teaching, and over the years trained countless pharmacy, medical, dental, and podiatry students at Temple, Kaiser said.
"He was one of a kind, with the emphasis on kind," said Robert Raffa, a pharmacologist who studied under him at Temple. "He loved being a teacher."
Raffa said Dr. Tallarida had lunch with his graduate students every Friday, and remained in close contact years later. He sang "Ave Maria" at Raffa's wedding.
"You wanted to be like him," Raff said. "The guy was absolutely brilliant, but he would never let you know that."
A widely sought speaker, Dr. Tallarida also served as a consultant to the pharmaceutical industry and to federal agencies, said his son, Ronald Jr.
In recent years, Dr. Tallarida worked at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., as a consultant, helping veterans suffering from traumatic brain injuries.
"His contributions were immense, and he will be sorely missed as a colleague and dear friend," said Frank Tortella, a retired chief of brain trauma neurobiology and neuropharmacology at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research.
Dr. Tallarida loved research and would always bring a calculator and a pad to the beach during family vacations at the Jersey Shore, his son said. He amassed more than 1,000 books in his home library.
"He was always tinkering, working on making the next discovery," his son recalled. "He was always doing work. He loved it."
Born and raised in South Philadelphia, Dr. Tallarida earned a bachelor's degree in physics and math from Drexel University in 1959 and a master's in 1963. He received a Ph.D. in pharmacology from Temple in 1967.
Besides his son, he is survived by his wife of 37 years, Theresa; daughters Karen Marshall, Diane Heggan, and Valerie Moffa; son Christopher; 10 grandchildren; and a sister.
A Funeral Mass will be said at 11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 30, at the Church of the Incarnation, 240 Main St., Mantua. Interment will be private.
Donations may be made to the Walter Reed Society, 8901 Wisconsin Ave, No. 303, Bethesda, Md. 20889, or at www.walterreedsociety.org. Condolences for the family may be left at www.buddfuneralhome.com.
856-779-3814@mlburney