Dr. Alec McCarter, a faculty member in biochemistry and microbiology from 1980-83, died Feb. 14 in Victoria. Alec grew up in the gold-rush town of Dawson City in the Yukon where one of his best friends was Pierre Berton. A survivor of polio, his career as a biochemist and author of over 50 scientific articles earned him many accolades, including the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Medal in 1977. While serving as head of biochemistry at Dalhousie University from 1950-65 he was instrumental in establishing the division of medical research at the National Research Council and its transition into the Medical Research Council of Canada. In 1965 he joined the University of Western Ontario as director of the National Cancer Institute of Canada’s cancer research laboratory, where his team was the first to describe an important mammary tumor virus. The last years of Alec’s 45-year research career were spent at UVic (1980-1983) where he carried out basic research in environmental toxicology. Alec was a quiet mentor to many and will be missed by all who knew him.

Contributed by friend and colleague Bob Olafson.