Melville W. Osborne *59

Mel died March 3, 2022, in Somerset, N.J., at age 99 following a brief illness. 

Born in Carteret, N.J., after high school Mel served in the Coast Guard on a submarine chaser during World War II, and attended the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at the war’s end. As a young man he traveled around the world on various merchant ships. 

After the Merchant Marines, Mel earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from Drew University. At Princeton he earned a Ph.D. in biology under the mentorship of Wilbur Swingle, renowned for developing a treatment for Addison’s disease. 

Mel had a career in the pharmaceutical industry, working first for Warner-Lambert and then as section head of cardiovascular pharmacology at Hoffmann-La Roche, retiring in 1983 with the title of distinguished research fellow. He was the author of numerous scientific papers.

Mel was a passionate amateur lepidopterist. A one-time president of the Newark Entomological Society, he loved raising butterflies and moths from eggs to their adult forms. He was extremely knowledgeable about scientific names, life cycles, and food plants.

Mel is survived by his wife, Elsie; sons Melville and Colin; daughter Ann; and grandchildren Emily, Patrick, and Katie.

Graduate alumni memorials are prepared by the APGA.