Terence “Terry” Lawson, Ph.D., a longtime professor at the Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, died on Jan. 3. He was 75.
“As a longtime member of the Eppley Institute faculty, Terry will be missed,” said Kenneth Cowan, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Eppley Institute. “His death was sudden and unexpected, and I extend my sincerest sympathies to his wife, colleagues and those he mentored in the lab.”
Dr. Lawson received his Ph.D. in experimental pathology from the University of Leeds in 1967 and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Leeds. He then was recruited to the University of Queensland in 1970.
He joined the Eppley Institute faculty in 1977 as an associate professor and was promoted to professor in 1995. Dr. Lawson’s research was focused on chemical carcinogenesis and toxicology. At the Eppley Institute, he studied the effects of N-alkylnitrosamines and heterocyclic amines on the development of pancreatic cancer in animals and collaborated with others to develop cell culture models for pancreatic ductal epithelial cells.
He also studied the molecular epidemiology of chemical-induced cancer in humans, specifically non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, pancreatic cancer and prostate cancer.
Dr. Lawson served on numerous committees at UNMC, including graduate supervisory committees at UNMC. Since 2007, he had been serving as the chair of the Scientific Review Committee for the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center. Since 1987, he served as director of the Laboratory Services Core Facility and as the Eppley Institute representative on the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC).
At this time, there are no plans for a memorial service, based on Dr. Lawson’s wishes. He is survived by his wife, Jean, and family.
You'll never walk alone, Terry.
It is indeed a very sad news and a great loss to all COM research community.
I so enjoyed his humor and dedication on the Scientific Review Committee
I didn't have any formal connections with Terry and our research paths never crossed, but I still considered him a friend. I'm guessing his bright personality made everyone who knew him think of him as a friend!
Dr. Lawson you will be missed! Very sad news.
I am greatly surprised and saddened by Terry Lawson's sudden death. My sincerest condolences to his family.
When you were with Terry, he made you feel important to him. Terry, you were important to me. You will be missed.
Farewell to a great man, who always brightened the halls of our campus. A cheerful colleague, mentor, and friend like no other. From benchside, checkout isle at Bakers, to hospital stairwell–Terry always made time to mentor folks. Then to always part ways with a smile. I will cherish the memories and be glad to have crossed paths with Terry.
Rest in Peace
Terry Lawson will be missed by many. I have known Dr. Lawson for 25 years. I will miss him greatly, as many others will as well. My Heart and sincere condolences go out to his Family.
Good by friend…..You will be missed. Thank you for your friendship & conversations.
Dan McQuade
Terry was a true friend to so many of us at UNMC – always ready with an encouraging word. I will always remember his quick wit and great sense of humor!
Godspeed Terry. I will remember you with fondness for your kindness and support with the Breast Cancer Collaborative Registry. That, and the way you greeted ladies saying "Hello Love!". Rest in Peace.
To know Terry was to love him. He will be missed by all. What a loss!
I was saddened to hear of the death of Terry. I enjoyed our conversations while we served in the IACUC. He always had a friendly smile and I always enjoyed our professional and social interactions. I will miss him.
My comments echo what others have said about Dr. Lawson. He always had time for a hallway chat and a smile. He was a great resource for our youth programs and will be missed by the many lives he touched in his career.
I was married to Terry's younger brother Philip, who died from complications associated with Multiple Sclerosis. Although we live in England, Terry was so supportive to Phil and myself. I could not have asked for a better brother-in-law. Rest in peace Terry, you will always be in my heart. Jenny
Peter and Christine Bundesen from Brisbane, Australia
We first met Terry on his arrival in Australia at UQ in 1970, when we were neighbours and became good friends, with the three of us at UQ in different disciplines and different stages in our careers. Our friendship continued whenl we went to Canada and Terry went to Omaha, Nebraska, where we visited him in 1979 to meet Jean and to attend as witnesses at their wedding and to partake of the wonderful Mexican lunch afterwards. We stayed in touch sporadically for some years but then lost touch. In March 2013 out of the blue we received an email from Terry on his and Jean's 34th wedding anniversary. Over the period to Christmas 2015 we had sporadic email contact, and we were delighted to remake our acquaintance. We are holidaying in France as we key this email, and have just met up with another colleague and friend from back in Brisbane in the 1970s, who just a week ago enquired as to whether we were in contact with Terry. We had sent a broadcast email to friends from Italy on 5 May and Terry's address had indicated undeliverable, we thought maybe he had retired; we sent another broadcast email to friends this morning, and again Terry's address indicated undeliverable. I googled Terry's name and UNMC to see if any update was available, and we have been shocked and deeply saddened to read of his sudden passing in early January this year. A man of character, humour, kindness and stature (both physically and personally) – and now we have no chance to regain our friendship and must hold Terry in our memories. Our sincerest sympathies to Jean and to Terry's family. May you rest in peace, Terry. Peter and Christine Bundesen
I met Terry in a Hall of Residence at U of Queensland, Australia when I was starting a PhD and he had just arrived to take up a lecturing position. He was such a warm and friendly guy and we remained firm friends (2 Brits in OZ) until he left for UNMC. I lost touch and only a few days ago was talking about him with 2 old Australian friends who were visiting, and it was with great sadness that we found out today that he had passed away in January .He was such a nice guy and I have great memories of him. Alistair Allen
I knew Terry when he was working in Leeds, when I realised we had the same surname and had bothers Philip John and mine was John Philip. He came to stay with me in Bermuda on his way to Australia. I was hoping to join him in Brisbane but that never happened. I have just discovered he died this year and would like to extend my deepest sympathy to his wife and family. He was always the life and sole of any party and a very popular guy.
Barbara Lawson June 8 th 2016
I found this sad notice because I went looking for it … only yesterday, thinking what Terry would have said about the election, I emailed him for a chat and was upset when the email bounced: at the very least it had to mean Terry had retired. I knew him when he was working at the University of Queensland, from 1970; my husband, David Greenwood, was an administrator at the Medical School, and they became friends. They played squash weekly, and Terry would come home with David, have a beer, and happily share whatever meal we and the kids were having. My oldest children remember him fondly: he loved the TV show Aunty Jack, and liked to quote from it to threaten my kids into the bath! He was an absolutely lovely man, with great intellectual gifts, but also with a wonderful sense of humour and a decency that shone out of him. We missed him when he left for UNMC, and I was glad to renew our friendship via emails when he found out about my husband's death and managed to get in touch. I send my sympathy to Jean and Terry's family. Jane Greenwood, Brisbane, 17 October 2016