Charles Frederick Becker ’34

Charlie Becker, chief pathologist at Sisters Hospital in Buffalo for 30 years before he retired in 1977, and a professor of pathology at the U. of Buffalo for 38 years, died Apr. 15, 2000. In addition to his long tenure at Sisters Hospital, he was assistant pathologist at Buffalo General Hospital and spent 18 years as chief attending pathologist and director of laboratories at Emergency Hospital and 26 years as consulting pathologist at Columbus Hospital.

In 1966, at the urging of several gynecologists who felt that hospital laboratories were too slow reporting Pap smear results, Charlie cofounded Parkway Cytology Lab, one of the area's first private cytology laboratories. In the 1940s he was asked how to improve autopsy tables. After making the modifications Charlie recommended, a local refrigerator manufacturer sold the tables worldwide under his name. Over the years, more than 10,000 Becker tables were shipped to hospitals, medical examiners, and other professionals.

Surviving are two daughters, Judith and Naniscah, two sons, David and Stephen, six grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. To them we offer our sincere sympathies.

The Class of 1934