Daniel Edward Atkinson

Daniel Edward Atkinson passed away peacefully at his home on February 2nd, 2024 at the age of 102. He is survived by his children Kristine (David), Owen (Melodee), Joyce (Branch), Ellen (Patrick), and daughter-in-law, Linda. He is also survived by 14 grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his wife Elsie, his son David, and his parents Max and Amy.

Dan was born in Pawnee City Nebraska on April 8th 1921. After serving in the Navy during WWII, Dan received his Ph.D from Iowa State University, then was a postdoc at the California Institute of Technology, and a research scientist at Argonne National labs before joining UCLA in 1952 as the second biochemist in the department.

In more than 90 publications with his students, Dan’s research pioneered the field of metabolic regulation. This work allowed for the development of the concept of “energy charge”, now a main topic of biochemistry textbooks. He was also responsible for the present understanding of the biological role of the urea cycle in pH regulation. Initially challenged by the old guard, his findings made their way into mainstream biochemistry. His classic 1977 monograph published by Academic Press “Cellular Energy Metabolism and its Regulation” presented a global view of the logic of metabolism and is still widely read and acclaimed. Dan recognized the power of personal computers early on, and in 1987 published “Dynamic Models in Biochemistry: A Workbook of Computer Simulations Using Electronic Spreadsheets”. At UCLA, Dan trained over 30 Ph.D. students and over 20 postdoctoral fellows and visiting faculty. Daniel retired from UCLA in 1992 and later moved to Corvallis Oregon and finally to Medford Oregon. In 2016, the UCLA Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry established the Daniel E. Atkinson & Charles A. West Prizes and Fellowships in Metabolic Biochemistry to be presented to undergraduate and graduate students to conduct research in April 8th 1921 ~ February 2, 2024

Chemistry and Biochemistry.

Dan loved the outdoors and had many happy times camping and hiking with family and friends. Dan and Elsie enjoyed traveling and visiting their children and grandchildren. When each grandchild turned 12 years old Dan and Elsie took them on their own special trip to such places as France, England, Norway, Canada, Alaska, and Hawaii. There was nothing Dan loved more than playing Some-R-Set with family and friends, a card game he had played since he was a child in Nebraska. Each and every newcomer to the family soon learned that they would have to become a Some-R-Set player. He was a ferocious and competitive player, and enjoyed playing several times a week up until his passing.

Daniel’s ashes will scattered off the Oregon coast, at a place that both he and Elsie loved and visited often. A memorial gathering to celebrate his remarkable life is to be planned for later in the year.

Daniel will be missed by his family and friends.

Joshua Tree 1948. Redwood National Park age 100