Andrew A. Benson: personal recollections

Abstract

Andrew A. Benson, one of the greatest and much loved scientists of our century, passed away on January 16, 2015; he was born on September 24, 1917. A grand celebration of his life was held on February 6, 2015, in California. Here, we present one of his photographs and key excerpts from what was said then, and soon thereafter.

Appendix

This appendix provides additional personal insights from family and friends, and sources to Benson’s contributions in photosynthesis.

Some quotes from Andy Benson

Stainless tableware shall be left in the detergent until a suitable moment arrives when hot water is available and then dry them into the drawer with a linen towel.

Group! Unless you really appreciate a Linen Glass Cloth, please use the cotton towels.

James (Jim) Neri added:

Here is a glimpse of Andy’s human qualities and a positive and fun-loving attitude to life.

• Andy had a whale’s baculum on his desk; when someone came he would ask for fun: “Do you know what this is?”

• He would write his initials A-A-B on everything in the freezer, such as ice cream cartons, and pre-mixed margaritas. Thus, my friends and I began referring to him simply as “AAB” and would delight in scooping vanilla “AAB-cream” and pre-mixed margarita “AAB-sauce” from their containers in the freezer he kept out back.

• He kept everything in the freezer. The more exotic the item the better: Mare’s Milk liquor, Wormwood honey, Macacauba wood from the Amazon– all graced his shelves and were trotted out to be sampled and admired. A story was told about each.

• When Andy turned 93, I garaged his 1973 BMW 3.0cs since he had had a couple of close calls, letting him know I’d bring it back for a visit any time he liked. After about a year or so, we were having coffee one morning and he looked right at me and said, “You can have that car.” So now, I will restore it in his honor.

• Andy would leave notes everywhere with very tiny chicken scratch writing that let you know how something could have been done better.

• NO one but Andrew Alm Benson knew how to wash dishes properly, especially [in] automatic dishwashers. I would often fumble with a glass until he snatched it from me and showed me how to wash it correctly.

• Andy had brought a pachinko machine home from Japan and hung it on the wall in the kitchen. We played Japanese pinball for hours, enjoying the racket it made.

• Andy had an aluminum bicycle that he would ride to work through thick traffic. It had saddlebags and he stated that it was the best bicycle ever made.

• He had a Hobie surfboard that he never rode—it used to hang from the ceiling in his office. I borrowed it to fish from …

• Andy had carpet installed in his garage to protect the concrete from staining. Who else would do such a thing?

• Dee and Andy were gracious hosts and would feed whoever showed up, from world-renowned scientists to surf kids off the beach.

Lisa Foster added:

The following adds much to what we have already learned about Andy’s human qualities.

• He took me to a Los Angeles private viewing of ‘Calypso’s Search for the Britannic’ where he introduced me to Jacques Cousteau.

• When Andy was head of a research laboratory at SIO, he took me to pet the dolphins and see the penguins up close.

• He left 3 × 5 cards in the bathroom with instructions on how to take a 3 min shower and the proper way to flush the toilet.

• When I was in high school, Andy received a Queen Elizabeth grant to lecture in Australia for 3 months. I was privileged to go with him and my mother for 1 month traveling from city to city, listening to him teach and meeting a host of amazing scientists and their families.

• When his grand-daughter, Beverly, was in grade school enrolled in a Spanish immersion program, Andy bought a Winnie the Pooh computer program and spent hours with her sitting on his lap in his office helping her to learn the language (the fun way).

• Andy always had the correct way to do things. On one visit, he told me that people tie their shoes wrong. They tie granny knots, when it should be a square knots; I told him that most people really don’t care. However, I have been tying my shoes with a square knot since.

• He always knew the best foods—Scrapple, tamales from Louisiana, and the monster oysters.

• Andy loved his kitchen, showed me his ceramic knife, and said to me that every chef should have one, I do now!

• He always had the best tools. Around 1998, I was helping cut a hole (for the TV in the living room) and commented on how nice his jig saw was, a Craftsman from the early 1960s. He just gave it to me. It’s my favorite tool.

Beverly Foster added:

‘‘When I was young I went to a Spanish speaking school in California. To help with my schooling I played a computer game. It was Winnie the Pooh, but it was all in Spanish. My grandfather Andy let me play on the computer in his study. I was always told that no one else was allowed in that study. But I used to sit on his lap and play that game with him. He would ask me what it was saying and I would tell him. He was always so impressed by how much Spanish I knew.

On special occasions, holidays and family gatherings we would bond over our love for dove bars.

He used to tell me that he was not able to come visit us because we lived in the edge of the earth and he was afraid he would fall off.

He treated me with much love and kindness. I grew up with him as my Grandpa Andy. I am so thankful for that.

Govindjee listed the following for the benefit of all the readers:

• (1) References to the story of Benson in the discovery of the path of carbon in photosynthesis are: Benson (2002, 2010); also see Bassham (2003).

• (2) A complete historical discussion of “The path of carbon in photosynthesis during 1937–1954” is presented by Nickelsen (2015) in chapter 6 (pp. 201–250).

• (3) A conversation with Andy Benson by Govindjee and others (video recorded by John Nishio) for the historians amongst us; it is very slow (about a minute) to connect, but it relates to Benson having shown that fraction 1 protein of Sam Wildman was the same as Rubsico (also see Wildman 2002):

  http://www.life.illinois.edu/govindjee/index_files/Andy%20Benson_Asilomar_2002.mpg

• (4) A Tribute to Andrew A. Benson was published on his 90th birthday in Photosynthesis Research, Volume 92, Issue 2, May 2007, pp. 143–271; it had 13 papers on several topics related to both photosynthesis and respiration. Authors included, in alphabetical order: Claude Alban, Jan M. Anderson, Christoph Benning, Maryse A. Block, Jacques Bourguignon, Bob B. Buchanan, Claus Buschmann, Francis X. Cunningham Jr., Roland Douce, Elisabeth Gantt, S. W. Jeffrey, Jacques Joyard, Hartmut K. Lichtenthaler, Norio Murata, Fabrice Rébeillé, Norbert Rolland, Achim Trebst, Hajime Wada, and David Alan Walker (see Buchanan et al. (2007) and the papers that follow).

• (5) British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has produced a movie that includes Benson’s work. (See T. Walker (2012) Botany: a blooming history: photosynthesis. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p011lymf)

• (6) A highly popular video, produced by Bob Buchanan, on Andrew A. Benson’s 95th birthday, has been seen, as of August, 15, 2015, by over 3500 viewers. It is available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfQQJ2vR_xE