Submitted by Bill Norvell 1965 <w.norvell@gmail.com>
on 26/Mar/2024
107.145.169.130
Dr. Paul Paolini, past chair of San Diego State University
Biology Department, passed away on February 27. Paolini was
a bioinformatics specialist who, in addition to teaching,
served as Founding Director of the SDSU Heart Institute and
Director of the Rees-Stealy Research Laboratories. His
accomplishments were many as was his unwavering support,
advocacy and mentorship of students, particularly those from
disadvantaged and underrepresented backgrounds. Earning his
B.S. and M.S. in physics and biophysics from Rensselaer
Polytechnic Institute and his Ph.D. in Physiology from the
University of California, Davis, Paolini came to San Diego
State University in 1970 as an Assistant Professor. Quickly
moving through the ranks, he was promoted to Professor in
1976. In 1983, he became the Chair of Biology and served in
that role until 1991. He also served as the Associate Dean
in the College of Sciences from 1993-2001. In this role, he
initiated and directed the College's Summer Science Bridge
(SSB) program. The program functioned as a pathway for
preparing high school students from underrepresented
backgrounds to enter the University, fostering over 300
students at its peak. "We are very sad to share that Paul
has passed," said Jeff Roberts, College of Sciences dean. He
has contributed greatly to the College and the University as
well as to the field of biology as a whole. Retirement and
appointment as an Emeritus professor in 2003 did not slow
down Paolini's continued and significant contributions to
the College of Sciences. With Dr. Jose Castillo, he served
as the Associate Director of the Computational Sciences
Research Center from 2004 to 2018. He was also a Professor
and Graduate Advisor for that program, authoring numerous
grants to support its graduate students in the Computational
Science Doctoral Program. In 1983, he founded the San Diego
State University Heart Institute, serving as its director as
well as the scientific director of the Rees-Stealy Research
Foundation Laboratory and director of the Howard Hughes
Medical Institute Biology Education Initiative from 1991 to
1998. In addition, he served for a time as the President of
the San Diego Chapter of the American Heart Association.
Paul facilitated the careers of many faculty and students on
campus and generously offered his support and counsel to so
many, said Cathie J. Atkins, Associate Dean and Professor of
Psychology Emerita. His extensive involvement in funded
student support initiatives was legendary. Some examples
include service as the Director of Bridges to the
Baccalaureate program at the program's inception from 1993
and later, as Co-Director with Dr. Jose Castillo. He also
directed an Eisenhower K-12 Science Teachers Training
Program from 1999 to 2003. He served as Co-PI for the
University's NIH MARC and MBRS programs for many years and
helped direct the NSF Computer Science, Mathematics and
Engineering for Minority Scholars (CMEMS) program, the NSF
Research Careers for Minority Scholars (RCMS) in the
Physical Sciences, the NSF Research Experience for
Undergraduates in Molecular Biology, and the NIH Science
Education Partnership Award (SEPA). Paul was the youngest
son of Paul and Rose Paolini of Newburgh. He attended
Newburgh Free Academy. Paolini was 81. He was preceded in
death by his first wife, Claudia who died in 1991 and his
son Michael, who died in 1997. He is survived by his wife,
Maureen Paolini, three sons, Chris, Sam and Paolo, and
grandchildren James and Phoenix. He will truly be missed by
his family and all who knew him.
Dr. Paul Paolini, past chair of San Diego State University
Biology Department, passed away on February 27. Paolini was
a bioinformatics specialist who, in addition to teaching,
served as Founding Director of the SDSU Heart Institute and
Director of the Rees-Stealy Research Laboratories. His
accomplishments were many as was his unwavering support,
advocacy and mentorship of students, particularly those from
disadvantaged and underrepresented backgrounds. Earning his
B.S. and M.S. in physics and biophysics from Rensselaer
Polytechnic Institute and his Ph.D. in Physiology from the
University of California, Davis, Paolini came to San Diego
State University in 1970 as an Assistant Professor. Quickly
moving through the ranks, he was promoted to Professor in
1976. In 1983, he became the Chair of Biology and served in
that role until 1991. He also served as the Associate Dean
in the College of Sciences from 1993-2001. In this role, he
initiated and directed the College's Summer Science Bridge
(SSB) program. The program functioned as a pathway for
preparing high school students from underrepresented
backgrounds to enter the University, fostering over 300
students at its peak. "We are very sad to share that Paul
has passed," said Jeff Roberts, College of Sciences dean. He
has contributed greatly to the College and the University as
well as to the field of biology as a whole. Retirement and
appointment as an Emeritus professor in 2003 did not slow
down Paolini's continued and significant contributions to
the College of Sciences. With Dr. Jose Castillo, he served
as the Associate Director of the Computational Sciences
Research Center from 2004 to 2018. He was also a Professor
and Graduate Advisor for that program, authoring numerous
grants to support its graduate students in the Computational
Science Doctoral Program. In 1983, he founded the San Diego
State University Heart Institute, serving as its director as
well as the scientific director of the Rees-Stealy Research
Foundation Laboratory and director of the Howard Hughes
Medical Institute Biology Education Initiative from 1991 to
1998. In addition, he served for a time as the President of
the San Diego Chapter of the American Heart Association.
Paul facilitated the careers of many faculty and students on
campus and generously offered his support and counsel to so
many, said Cathie J. Atkins, Associate Dean and Professor of
Psychology Emerita. His extensive involvement in funded
student support initiatives was legendary. Some examples
include service as the Director of Bridges to the
Baccalaureate program at the program's inception from 1993
and later, as Co-Director with Dr. Jose Castillo. He also
directed an Eisenhower K-12 Science Teachers Training
Program from 1999 to 2003. He served as Co-PI for the
University's NIH MARC and MBRS programs for many years and
helped direct the NSF Computer Science, Mathematics and
Engineering for Minority Scholars (CMEMS) program, the NSF
Research Careers for Minority Scholars (RCMS) in the
Physical Sciences, the NSF Research Experience for
Undergraduates in Molecular Biology, and the NIH Science
Education Partnership Award (SEPA). Paul was the youngest
son of Paul and Rose Paolini of Newburgh. He attended
Newburgh Free Academy. Paolini was 81. He was preceded in
death by his first wife, Claudia who died in 1991 and his
son Michael, who died in 1997. He is survived by his wife,
Maureen Paolini, three sons, Chris, Sam and Paolo, and
grandchildren James and Phoenix. He will truly be missed by
his family and all who knew him.