John H. Venable Jr.

Age 74, died Tuesday, July 17, 2012. He grew up in Atlanta, GA., earned a BS in physics from Duke University and a PhD. in biophysics from Yale University, and spent two years as a visiting scientist in the laboratory of Professor M.H.F. Wilkins, King’s College, London. He joined the Vanderbilt faculty in 1967.

He applied physical techniques, such as electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy and small angle X-ray diffraction to gain insights on the structures and functions of biological macromolecules and macromolecular assemblies. This interdisciplinary approach to science was unusual at the time he took it up and drew attention to the results of his research as it appeared in a wide range of scientific journals.

He was a talented and dedicated teacher who was honored in 1980 with the Ellen Gregg Ingalls Award for Excellence in Classroom Teaching, and he was a mainstay in developing and teaching Vanderbilt’s introductory course in Molecular Biology. Another of his teaching roles was as a coach to a Little League baseball team (1969-1975).

In 1981 he was appointed Associate Dean of Vanderbilt’s College of Arts and Science. In 1992 he was appointed Acting Dean of the College of Arts and Science and then became Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs a year later. He remained in that office until 2000, when he was again asked to take on the responsibilities of the College deanship. He retired in 2002.

He is survived by wife Alys, daughter Carol Venable (Frank Martinez), grandchildren Chayton and Nascha Martinez, niece Laura Lamps (Paul Ward), and nephew Allen Webb (Hanna LaHood).

Visitation with family will be on Saturday, July 21, from 2:00 to 4:00 pm at the Marshall-Donnelly-Combs Funeral Home, 201 25th Ave. N, Nashville, TN 37203. Burial will be at Westview Cemetery, Atlanta, GA, on Monday, July 23.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Alive Hospice (1718 Patterson St., Nashville, TN 37203) or The Ingram Cancer Center Fund (Vanderbilt Gift Processing Office, PMB 407727, 2301 Vanderbilt Pl.,Nashville, TN 37240).