Leslie Robert Ballou's Obituary
Leslie Robert Ballou, Ph.D. died at his home in Memphis on May 9, 2013. Les was a retired research chemist with the Veterans Administration Medical Center and Associate Professor in the Departments of Medicine and Molecular Sciences at the University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center. He is survived by his wife of 30 years, Rebecca (Becky), his son Jeffrey, and his cousin Shirley Pasqua of La Canada Flintridge, California.Les was born in Glendale, California in 1948, the son of the late Robert C. and Evelyn Spelbring Ballou. After graduating from Hoover High School in Glendale, he enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving in the Eighth Army Band in South Korea. He attended California State University at Northridge, where he earned bachelor and masters degrees in biology. He completed his Ph.D. at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, and accepted a post-doctoral fellowship at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, where he met and married Becky.At the time of his retirement, Les’s primary research interest was in the area of arthritis, and specifically, the role of COX inhibitors in inflammation. During his career he published more than 50 peer reviewed papers, including collaborations with the late Nobel laureate Sir John Vane. He received the Virginia P. Engleticheff award for Outstanding Research in Arthritis. Les also mentored a number of graduate students and post-doctoral fellows, many of whom are making important scientific contributions in their respective positions. During his scientific career he was an invited speaker at several national and international conferences, traveling to Europe, China, Korea and Thailand, and he also served as Chair of the Cell Biology and Biochemistry study section of the National Arthritis Foundation. He co-authored the chapter on nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in the 2009 version of Kelley’s Textbook of Rheumatology.An avid golfer, Les also loved fishing, travel, music and sports, and he had many friends from all walks of life. After his diagnosis of pancreatic cancer in January 2011, he fought the disease with strength and determination, while continuing to focus on enjoying activities with family and friends and pursuing his many interests.Les is also survived by his sisters-in-law Cameron Wright of Tarpon Springs, Florida, Paige Wright of Memphis, and Megan Baker of Orange Park, Florida, brothers-in-law Andrew Corn and James Baker, and niece Jessica Baker.The family will receive friends from 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, May 14 and the funeral service will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday, May 15 all at Memorial Park Funeral Home.The family requests that donations in lieu of flowers be made to the charity of the donor’s choice.Memorial Park Funeral Home and Cemetery, 5668 Poplar Ave. Memphis, TN 38119, (901)767-8930, “Behind the Stone Wall”.
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