Eugene (Gene) Spaziani

EUGENE (GENE) SPAZIANI

Iowa City

Eugene (Gene) Spaziani, 85, of Iowa City, passed away Thursday, June 30, 2016, at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. As per his wish, there will be no service. A celebration of his life will be held at a later date.

Gene is survived by his wife, Susan; two sons, Andrew of Golden, Colo., and Daniel of Cedar Rapids; stepdaughter, Kim (Jon) Menges of Cedar Rapids; three granddaughters, Taylor Spaziani, Emily and Annika Menges; former wife, Carol Spaziani; sister, Linda Foreman of California; nieces, Julie Foreman (Jeff) Hayes of Washington and Amanda Foreman of California; sister and brother-in-law, Barbara (Whitey) Dreyer of Cedar Rapids; and brother and sister-in-law, Jeff (Normandy) Paul of California.

Gene was born July 22, 1930, in Detroit, Mich., to Mary and Edward Spaziani. The family moved to southern California in 1939. Gene graduated from Chaffey Union High School in 1948 and Chaffey Junior College in 1950. Gene earned his bachelor's degree and master's degree in zoology from UCLA. In 1958, he received his Ph.D. in endocrinology. He conducted a year of post-doctoral work in the physiology department of University College, U of London, as the 1958 Squibb Fellow of the Endocrine Society. In 1959, he accepted a faculty position at the University of Iowa in the zoology department (later to become the biology department). He was promoted to full professor, serving as department chair. His research and teaching specialty was endocrinology. Upon retirement in 2000, Gene was appointed director of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Science Education Program at Iowa. Also in emeritus status, Gene published "The Hormone Sourcebook," intended for the general public, and "The History of the Biological Science Departments at the University of Iowa: 1855-2012."

Gene was active in the Iowa City community serving on the board of directors of NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Johnson County, Goodwill of the Heartland and Shelter House. He wrote grants and advocated for the development of the Melrose Ridge apartments at Chatham Oaks and Fairweather Lodges, permanent housing for veterans with mental illness.

Gene joined New Horizons Band, playing clarinet in the Concert Band, Clarinet Quintet and the Polka Dots. He played jazz with Spontaneous Combustion.

Gene and Susan enjoyed traveling to Europe, Africa, and Central and South America, visiting 23 countries, some multiple times. His most memorable trips were with his children and three granddaughters to Florence, Rome, London, Paris, Majorca and Barcelona.

Gene was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Diana Spaziani Hassett.

Gene will be greatly missed by his family and his many colleagues and friends.

Memorials may be directed to the New Horizons Band, NAMI Johnson County, or Shelter House.