Robert Guthrie, whose inexpensive test to screen newborns for phenylketonuria (PKU) has spared an estimated 30,000 children from the effects of mental retardation, died June 24 in Seattle after a long illness. He was 78.

A professor emeritus of pediatrics and microbiology at UB, Guthrie is credited with developing a test 30 years ago for early detection of PKU using a spot of blood taken from a newborn's heel and special filter paper.

Guthrie's PKU test is a standard test for newborns in all 50 states and 25 countries. The cost of a single test is about 3 cents, compared to an estimated $1 million for lifetime care of an affected, but untreated, youngster.

Guthrie credited his son John, and his niece, Margaret Doll, with being the inspiration for his research and campaign to get newborn testing widely accepted. John Guthrie, who had non-PKU mental retardation, died earlier this year at age 47. Margaret Doll, 36, is profoundly retarded and lives in a Minneapolis group home. She was born with PKU in 1958, one year before Guthrie discovered the filter-paper test.

During the past 15 years, Guthrie expanded his research to include detection of lead poisoning in infants and children, and fought for stricter lead standards in products.

Guthrie received three bachelor's degrees, a master's and a doctorate from the University of Minnesota, and a master's degree from the University of Maine, all between 1941 and 1946.

He was a surgeon with the NIH, a professor and chair of the Department of Bacteriology and Immunology at University of Kansas, before taking a position as principal cancer research scientist at Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo in 1954. He joined the UB School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences faculty in 1958, serving until his retirement in 1986.

Guthrie's PKU test had earned him numerous honors, including the Kennedy Foundation Award, the Association for Retarded Citizens Distinguished Research Award, the American Association on Mental Deficiency Award and the Pool of Bethesda Award. This April, he received the Founder's Award from the Heritage-Oak Foundation, which provides philanthropic support to Heritage Centers and other human service agencies in Western New York that address the needs of people with developmental disabilities.

Guthrie and his wife, Margaret, moved to Seattle in May.

Donations in his memory may be made to The Heritage-Oak Foundation and/or the Robert Guthrie Biochemical Genetics Fellowship Fund, both in care of North Presbyterian Church.

Robert M. Cooper, associate professor of pharmacy practice at UB, died July 2 in Buffalo General Hospital after a long illness. He was 55.

A UB faculty member since 1967, Cooper also served in a variety of administrative posts at the School of Pharmacy. In addition to serving as chair of the Department of Pharmacy, he was associate dean of professional pharmacy affairs, associate dean of the school, assistant dean of student and professional affairs, and admissions officer for the School of Pharmacy.

An expert in pharmacy law, Cooper was regarded as a leading authority on state and federal regulations governing pharmacy practice in New York State. He was editor of Pharmacy Law, published by the School of Pharmacy for New York State pharmacists.

He was honored with the SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching, the Rho Chi Excellence in Teaching Award and the only honorary membership in the UB Pharmacy Alumni Association.

Cooper played a key role in numerous School of Pharmacy functions, particularly those that involved service to students and alumni. In 1975, 1983 and 1995, the school yearbook was dedicated to him. From 1973-90, he served as commencement coordinator and master of ceremonies for the School of Pharmacy. He founded and directed the annual Pharmacy Career Day programs at UB, and was co-coordinator of the school's continuing education programs.

"Cooper represented in many ways the core of the School of Pharmacy. His passing signifies the end of a major era of pharmacy education at UB," said David Triggle, dean of the School of Pharmacy.

A member of the New York State Board of Pharmacy and a Board chairman, Cooper also belonged to numerous professional organizations, including Rho Chi, the pharmacy honors society.

He earned a doctorate degree in pharmacy from the University of California, San Francisco Medical Center.

Daphne Hare, 58, former UB professor and director of the Medical/Dental Division of the Veterans Administration central office in Washington, died at her home Aug. 3, after a six-year battle with melanoma. She was the wife of Peter H. Hare, a UB faculty member who served as chair of the Department of Philosophy for many years.

Hare, who from 1979-93 commuted weekly from Buffalo to Washington, administered 8,500 medical residency positions with 100 medical schools across the nation. Prior to her position in Washington, she was on the faculty of the departments of Medicine and Biophysical Sciences in the UB School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.

In 1993, she became associate chief of staff for education at the VA Medical Center in Buffalo. Her national leadership role with the VA earned her the Worthen Award for Academic Excellence from the Association of American Medical Colleges and the VA.

During the past five years, she was involved in the transformation of medical education in the former Soviet Union and in instituting an international medical licensure process. This led to her obtaining a $2.4 million grant from the U.S. Agency for International Development through the University of Rochester.

Much of Hare's research publications in the biophysics of membrane transport were done in collaboration with scientists in Germany, where she held a number of visiting professorships. She served on the editorial board of Physiological Reviews and the executive committee of the Biophysical Society of North America.

Hare was past president of the Buffalo Chapter of the National Organization for Women and former chair of the WNY Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union.

She received a bachelor's degree in physics in 1958 from Barnard College/Columbia University, where she was a student of Nobel Laureate Polykarp Kusch. She earned her medical degree at Cornell Medical College.

A celebration of her life will be scheduled in Buffalo this fall. Contributions may be made to the Barnard College Alumni Fund, Columbia University, New York, N.Y. 10027.

David G. Hays, former linguistics professor

Funeral services for David Glenn Hays, former professor of linguistics and computer science at UB, were held July 30 in New York City. Hays, who lived in New York City, died July 26 in White Plains Hospital after suffering complications from lung cancer.

Founder of the discipline of computational linguistics, the use of computers to understand language, Hayes was a professor of linguistics, computer science and library and information science at UB from 1968-1980. From 1980 until he became ill, Hayes, author of six books, was an independent writer, consultant and researcher.

Retired UB social work professor Dorothy Lynn, whose career began in 1929 at the University of Chicago's Settlement House in an era when there was little public assistance available to the poor, died June 3 at Millard Fillmore Hospital-Gates Circle. She was 85.

Lynn, who joined the then-University of Buffalo School of Social Welfare in 1949, retired in 1977. Her hobbies included raising German shepherds, and she was a familiar sight on the South Campus as she walked with her dog, Driest, who always carried her briefcase in his mouth.

She taught graduate courses in social work, and interdisciplinary ones in the UB School of Nursing and the Cornell University School of Labor Relations. Instrumental in developing the social work curriculum at UB, she also helped to develop programs in Rochester, Syracuse, Binghamton and St. Catherines, Ont. She received a bachelor's in social work from Northwestern University and a master's in social work from Columbia University.

Funeral services were held Aug. 2 in Asheville, N.C. for Rev. Philip E. Pepper, a retired Episcopal priest and UB librarian. Pepper, 71, who moved to Asheville in 1993, died there Aug 1.

Associate rector of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Buffalo from1958-61, Pepper was on the staff of the UB Libraries from 1961 until he retired in 1986. Among his many roles, he served in cataloging, as acting head of the Architecture and Environmental Design Library, and as head of the Main Street Library. He became associate librarian in 1968, completing his career in the Undergraduate Library.

A graduate of the University of California at Berkeley and Seabury-Western Theological Seminary in Evanston, Ill., he received his M.L.S. from Geneseo State College.

Hermann E. Bozer, 100, head of the Department of Otolaryngology at the UB medical school for 30 years, died Aug. 2 at his home in Juno Beach, Fla.

A graduate of the University of Michigan, where he also received his medical degree, Bozer spent three years at the Mayo Clinic as an assistant to founders Charles and William Mayo. He came to Buffalo in 1922 to found a clinic patterned after the Mayo Clinic.

During his years as a professor and head of the Department of Otolaryngology at the UB medical school, Bozer was chief of the Department of Otolaryngology and chief of staff at Buffalo General Hospital, E.J. Meyer Memorial Hospital and Children's Hospital.

Bozer, who was the founder of the Buffalo Hearing and Speech Center, retired in 1969 after 50 years in the practice of medicine and surgery. He moved to Juno Beach, Fla. in 1988.

The family is planning a memorial service, to be held in Buffalo.