Neil E. Welker left us after a short, but brave, battle with cancer on Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2004 at age 72. Neil, born in Darien Center, NY on April 21, 1932, received his PhD from Western Reserve in Cleveland, OH and moved to the Chicago area where he was a Professor of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Cell Biology at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL from 1964 to present. He is noted for promoting excellence in undergraduate science education and supporting students’ participation in the Wind River Conference each year in Colorado. He is survived by his loving wife, Fatima Vilich, and her children, Ines and Adis Kurtovic; his three children, Thomas and Douglas Welker and Jennifer Burger and their spouses and children; his three stepchildren, Don and Jon Pollack and JoAnn Carbray and their spouses and children; his sister, Arlene Coccari and brother, Wallace Welker and their spouses, children and grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. There will be a gathering for family, friends and colleagues at his home on Aug. 15 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. There will be no funeral service. Contributions may be made in his name to support awards for excellence in undergraduate teaching and laboratory work at Northwestern University to The Neil Welker Fund, c/o Djana Sterpin, Weinberg College of Arts & Sciences, Office of University Development, Northwestern University, 2020 Ridge Avenue, Evanston, IL 60208-4307 or to support student scholarships to the Wind River Conference in memory of Neil Welker to the Board of Regents/Wind River c/o Ms. Heidi Albrecht, Office of the Dean of Sciences, UNLV, 4505 Maryland Parkway, Box 454001, Las Vegas, NV 89154-4001.
