Prof. Fred Kummerow has been a faculty member at UIUC since 1950, though I never met him.
Still, he is in an inspiration to me and hopefully you.
Last week, he died at 102 years of age and wisdom.
Research: His life’s work was on the harmful effects of trans fats. His work was pathbreaking—and it was ignored for decades. His most significant study showed a direct link between the consumption of foods containing trans fats and heart disease in women. The New York Times reports, “It was a turning point in scientific and medical thinking about trans fats.”
Family: He was married to Amy Kummerow, who passed away at age 94. They had three children and three generations of descendants during Prof. Kummerow’s long life.
Inspiration: The picture of Prof. Kummerow shows him at his Urbana office at age 99. He maintained an active research program and worked past his 100th birthday.
Best Fact: As the New York Times reports, “Professor Kummerow began his campaign to halt the use of trans fats when he found that food manufacturers had continued to rely heavily on trans fats even after his findings were corroborated by other scientists. In 2009 he filed a petition with the F.D.A. to ban the use of trans fats but, he said, received no response. He then sued the agency in 2013.”
Here is a man who fought for his principles—and to save lives— as he approached the century mark.
Thank you, Prof. Kummerow, for a life well-lived.
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