February 9, 1927–December 5, 1990

BY LAWRENCE I. GILBERT

HOWARD SCHNEIDERMAN passed away on December 5, 1990. His loving wife Audrey was at his side when he lost his courageous two-year battle against leukemia. Dr. Schneiderman, an eminent developmental biologist, academician, and university administrator, was, at the time of his death, chief scientist and senior vice-president for research and development at the Monsanto Corporation. Dr. Schneiderman was the epitome of a master teacher. His contagious enthusiasm elicited the very best from undergraduates, graduate students, and postdocs, many of whom have become world leaders in science. Several months after his death two memorial services celebrated his life; one took place at Washington University in St. Louis and the other at the University of California at Irvine. The conclusion reached by all who knew Howard well agreed with my personal feelings: Howard Schneiderman was a "mensch." According to the American Heritage Dictionary, a mensch is "a person having admirable characteristics, such as fortitude and firmness of purpose." It is a word derived from the Yiddish and middle high German and certainly one that pays tribute to his personality.

Howard was born in Brooklyn, New York, to Louis and