Obituaries

Hans Noll died peacefully at home at the age of 97 on Nov.18, 2021. He was born June 14, 1924 in Stein am Rein, Switzerland to Pastor Johannes Noll and Hedwig Staehelin Noll. He was the 2nd of seven children. When he was 8 years old the family moved to Arlesheim near Basel. Deeply curious about nature from a young age, he delighted in observing it; drawing and painting butterflies, river and beach scenes, and for a while, kept pet snakes and turtles. As a high school student during the 2nd World War, he excelled in academics and languages. Alongside his growing passion for science, he cultivated an abiding interest in drama, literature and world affairs; at university he edited and wrote for the Basel University paper. He continued to be a prolific writer throughout his life.

His studies at the University of Basel were interrupted in 1944 by the required basic training in the Swiss Army. He also spent a year in the Sanatorium Universitaire in Leysin recuperating from tuberculosis, where he read, played his cello, and wrote In the Surrealist Paradise, a drama aired on Swiss National Radio. In 1948 he resumed his work on his doctoral thesis on nutrient transport in tuberculosis bacterium at the Serum Institute in Copenhagen, Denmark, pursuing his keen interest in the developing field of molecular biology in the company of pioneering scientists Georges von Hevesy, Ole Maaloe, Niels Kaj Jerne, James Watson and Gunther Stent.

While in Copenhagen Hans met and married Johanne Bindesboell and their first child, Kirsten, was born. He completed his PhD in 1950, and a year later with the addition of a son, Lucas, the young family immigrated to the United States settling in New Rochelle, N.Y. From there he often commuted by motorcycle to his lab at the Public Health Research Institute of the City of New York continuing research on the molecular mechanics of tuberculosis bacterium. A career move in 1956 landed him at the University of Pittsburgh Medical School as an assistant professor of microbiology. Together with his colleagues, Hans elucidated the cell’s protein factory, the ribosome. During this time his daughters, Katharine and Elizabeth were born.

In 1965 he became full professor at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. The American Cancer Society endowed him with a lifetime grant for his basic biological research. He enjoyed teaching and mentoring many young scientists in his laboratory. Hans’ final career move was in 1989 to the Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology at the University of Hawaii to continue working on understanding the intercellular communication guiding development from embryo to multicellular organism in sea urchins. He retired to Seattle in 1996 where he lived the remainder of his life.

In addition to being a consummate reader, he translated his brother Peter Noll’s book, On Death and Dying, from German to English and authored his own book in German, Umwelt Oder Waffen, translated as Weapons or the Environment, published in 1991. He was an early environmentalist. Hans shared his love of sailing, skiing, and mountaineering with family and friends. Many happy times were spent at the chalet in Saas Fee, Switzerland. He enjoyed playing and listening to classical music. He followed politics and world events and engaged in passionate discussions. He supported many humanitarian causes and efforts to promote world peace. He loved to travel and cherished his friends across the globe. In retirement, the company of his grandchildren gave him great pleasure. He had a good sense of humor and his antics were known to embarrass his family. Hans was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Johanne, in 2011. He is survived by his 3 younger brothers, Georg, Christoph, and Markus in Switzerland. In the United States, he is survived by his children Kirsten (Joseph Schafer), Lucas, Katharine (Frank Bryan), and Elizabeth. And he is survived by grandchildren Jesse Seidman (Holly), Isabel Suhr, Christoph Suhr, Felix Bryan and great grandchildren Nicholas Seidman and Ella Seidman.

The family is grateful to Monica Mwaura and Bashiru Kabbae for their skillful caregiving and companionship to Hans during his last years.

A family memorial celebration is planned for spring 2022.

Memorial contributions may be made to earthjustice.org.