Irwin Tessman

Irwin  Tessman, 86, of West Lafayette, passed away on Friday, November 4, 2016 at Cumberland Pointe Health Campus. Interment will be at Temple Israel Cemetery. He was born November 24, 1929, in Brooklyn, NY, to the late Morris and Anna Tessman. He married Ethyl Stolzenberg who preceded him in death. A son Adam was born to Irwin & Ethyl, and he survives.  Irwin received his PhD degree in physics from Yale University and did postdoctoral research in biophysics at Cornell University. He continued his research at MIT before joining the Purdue Biology faculty with his wife Ethyl. After a short respite at the University of California at Irvine, they returned to Purdue.  Irwin was interested in the effects of radiation on cells and did careful, quantitative work. A primary contribution was to provide convincing evidence for the existence of a bacterial virus that contained only one part of the genetic complement, i.e. a so-called “single stranded molecule.” This was a major departure from the excepted dogma and extended the appreciation of the broad range of living material. He did further detailed research on the ability of cells to repair genetic damage. All of his biological research was basic to our fundamental understanding of living cells.   Irwin was a brilliant, eclectic scholar and set very high standards for his own research and that of others. He enjoyed carefully analyzing the commentary and research of others and made detailed and to the point responses. He taught demanding and very interesting courses to upper division biology majors. Irwin was well respected in academia and his advice on a broad range of matters was often sought. His was a very distinguished academician.  There will be no service.