Arnold S. Bleiweis, Ph.D., graduate research professor emeritus, who retired in 2003 after serving the University of Florida for 35 years, passed away on Dec. 16, following a brief illness.
He was one of UF’s most outstanding and successful researchers, and was known as a dedicated, effective teacher and mentor of graduate students and junior faculty throughout his career.
“Arnie had a delightful sense of humor, was always in a positive frame of mind and was admired by everyone he worked with. We all knew him as a man of high integrity, with excellent judgment and a quiet, confident manner. His loss will be felt by many, in our college, and throughout the dental and research worlds, and he will be missed,” said Teresa A. Dolan, D.D.S., M.P.H., professor and dean.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., in 1937, Bleiweis earned his B.S. in biology/chemistry from Brooklyn College, Brooklyn, N.Y. (1958), his M.S. in bacteriology (1960), and his Ph.D. in microbiology (1964) from Pennsylvania State College, State College, Pa.
He first entered the academic professional world in 1958 when he lectured on biology at Brooklyn College, and continued with a long career as a teacher in higher education including with Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pa.; Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Mo.; and the A. Einstein Medical Center, Philadelphia, Pa. He then joined the University of Florida in 1967 as an assistant professor with the Institute for Food and Agricultural Sciences. In 1986, he joined the UF College of Dentistry as professor and chairman of the department of basic dental sciences and was appointed a graduate research professor in June 1989. He also served as chair of the department of oral biology from January 1986 through August2001.
Bleiweis remained at UF for 35 years before retiring in 2003 following a distinguished, highly-respected career, and was then appointed a graduate research professor emeritus in February 2003. While at UF he worked with a variety of colleges including Liberal Arts and Sciences, Agriculture, Medicine and Veterinary Medicine. He also served on a number of UF committees throughout his tenure here. Bleiweis received numerous awards and honors from local, national and international groups and in 1998 received an award from UFs Professorial Excellence Program.
He was foremost a researcher, and was known and respected internationally for the strength of his research endeavors and his many publications.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Monday, December 27, 2010, at 3 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 4225 NW 34 St. in Gainesville, Fla. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the UUF Foundation 4225 NW 34 St., Gainesville, Fla., 32606; Haven Hospice 4200 NW 90 Blvd., Gainesville, Fla., 32606, or to the University of Florida Foundation, College of Dentistry, PO Box 100217, Gainesville, Fla. 32610.