Peter Carey Nowell, Md

Peter C. Nowell, MD Dr. Peter Carey Nowell of White Horse Village in Newtown Square died of Alzheimer's disease complications on Monday, December 26, 2016 at the age of 88. Brother to Foster Nowell Jr.; beloved father to Timothy (Janice), Karen King (Thomas), Kristin (Carolyn Jimenez), and Michael (Lauren de Moll); grandfather to seven and expectant great-grandfather to one, Peter was predeceased by his wife of 54 years Helen Walker Worst Nowell, his daughter Sharon, his sister Nancy and his brother Sam. Born February 28, 1928 in Philadelphia to parents Foster Nowell and Margaret Moore Matlack Nowell, Peter grew up in Rose Tree, Delaware County, PA. Having attended elementary school at The School in Rose Valley where his attitudes toward education and learning were formulated at an early stage, Peter graduated from Swarthmore High School in 1945 before earning a fast-tracked BA in biochemistry at Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT. Peter was fond of citing the reading of the book Microbe Hunters by Paul Henry de Kruif at an early age as his inspiration for entering the field of science. Peter obtained his M.D. from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in 1952, did a rotating internship at Philadelphia General Hospital, and trained in pathology at Presbyterian Hospital. He spent two years at the U.S. Naval Radiological Defense Laboratory in San Francisco before returning to the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine as an instructor, and later as a professor in the Department of Pathology. He served as Chairman of the Department from 1967-1973 and was the first director of the University of Pennsylvania Cancer Center, now known as the Abramson Cancer Center. Perhaps most widely known as co-discoverer of the “Philadelphia Chromosome,” with his collaborator, David Hungerford, in 1960, Dr. Nowell's 50 year career in cancer research reflects his accomplishments as a distinguished scientist of world-wide recognition, an outstanding teacher, educator and advisor, an accomplished administrator and leader. Among the awards and citations Dr. Nowell accrued for his work can be counted the Lindback Distinguished Teaching Award, the Albert Lasker Clinical Medical Research Award, and The Benjamin Franklin Medal in Life Science. Last year an endowed chair was established in his name at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, The Peter C. Nowell, MD Professorship. Despite the accolades, to his family, friends, and colleagues, Peter was short on hubris and long on self-effacing humor, be it recounting his perennial status as a third stringer on whatever athletic team would make room for him on the bench, his ineptitude with hand tools or his medical students' suffering through his tendency to use them as a captive audience for his wordplay and pun-laced comedy. The teasing, humorous patter that became his signature be he on the tennis court or in the boardroom was with him to the end, a trait widely appreciated and remarked upon by those lucky enough to make his acquaintance during his final days. The world is poorer today for the loss of this remarkable student, scientist, mentor, teacher, husband, father, brother and friend. Internment will be private. Memorial Service to be announced at a later date. Contributions in Peter's memory can be made to The School in Rose Valley, 20 School Lane, Rose Valley, PA 19063 and Elwyn, 111 Elwyn Road, Media, PA 19063. Services entrusted to Walter J. Meyers Funeral Home, PC.