Plotnikoff, Nicholas PhD died suddenly June 4, 2020. He was born in Harbin, China, August 13, 1927 to parents who had fled the Russian revolution. He immigrated to the United States in 1929 and graduated from UC-Berkeley and the University of Texas-Houston Medical School. Nick brought everyone laughter and joy. He had a big laugh and a big heart. He loved making people happy. He was a pioneer researcher in central nervous system pharmacology. At the Stanford Research Institute in the 1950's, he helped develop medications to support manned space flight. When at Abbott Laboratories, 1963-1975, he was the first author on several papers with 1977 Nobel Prize winner Andrew Schally on hypothalamic control of the pituitary gland. For Abbott, he was awarded several patents for his development of central nervous system medications including the still unique medication magnesium pemoline (Cylert). Until 1975, he led research in the anti-nausea properties of Cannabis sativa. Nick served as a Professor of Pharmacology until his formal retirement from the University of Illinois-Chicago. His 147 co-authored papers generated 3640 citations in the peer-reviewed literature. He was the author of numerous textbook chapters and three books including Stress and Immunity (1991). His first publication was in 1952. His most recent scientific paper was published in August of 2017. He is survived by his wife of 60 years Carol (nee Adams), his brother George (Bernadette), his son Greg (Shawn Monaghan), his daughter Susan (Frank Norman) and two grandchildren Jack Norman (New York, NY) and Nicole Norman (Austin, TX). In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to the Orphans of the Storm (Deerfield, IL), the Humane Society of Ocean City, NJ or The Salvation Army.

Published on June 14, 2020