PERNIS, Benvenuto G. MD - Of Wellesley. Professor Emeritus of Microbiology and Medicine, Columbia University New York. Passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by family on Tuesday October 25, 2011 at the age of 88. Ben was born in Florence Italy, August 9 1923.
After completing his medical training at the University of Milan in 1947, he became an Assistant Professor of Medicine in Cagliary, Italy during which time he met Maria, his beloved wife of 58 years. Ben continued to rise through the ranks of the medical profession and became a Full Professor of Medicine and Director at the University of Genoa Medical School in 1965. In addition to his clinical endeavors, he was one of the early pioneers in the field of immunology and developed a life long passion for research. He conducted some of the earliest fundamental studies in lymphocyte biology and was instrumental in the founding of the Basel Institute for Immunology in Switzerland which has been home to several Nobel Prizes winners. He was recruited by Columbia University in 1976 where he was a Professor of Microbiology and Medicine. Ben was a creative thinker and prolific author having published numerous scientific manuscripts and contributing to several scientific textbooks. He received numerous honors during his distinguished career. Ben also served on
several scientific advisory boards including Cancer Research Institute and being the Chairman of the Horwitz Prize Committee.
Ben was the beloved husband of Maria G.(Sanna). Devoted father of Guglielmo Pernis of Mill Valley CA, Alessandra Pernis-Lowell MD and her husband Barry Lowell MD of Mountain Lakes NJ. Daniela Muldowney and her husband Michael of Dover MA. Loving Grandfather of Matthew and Andrew Lowell, Michael, Patrick, and Liam Muldowney.
Funeral from the George F. Doherty & Sons Funeral Home, 477 Washington St. (Rt.16) WELLESLEY, Friday, October 28th at 9 AM. Funeral Mass in Most Precious Blood Dover at 10 AM. Relatives and friends kindly invited. Visiting hours Thursday, October 27th from 4-8 PM. Interment Woodlawn Cemetery, Wellesley. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Benvenuto’s memory to the Cancer Research Institute, 55 Broadway, Suite 1802, New York, NY 10006.