Riverwoods Doctor, A Leader in Pharmacy Education, Dies

The following obituary is courtesy of Chicago Jewish Funerals.

David Joseph Slatkin, Ph.D., 72, of Riverwoods died November 16, 2015, after a long battle with Parkinson’s. He was born in Brooklyn, NY, the third of four children of Max and Bertha (Schwartz) Slatkin. He grew up in Scarsdale, NY, and graduated from Scarsdale High School. He went on to receive Bachelors degrees from Wayne State University, Detroit, and from Mercer University’s Southern School of Pharmacy, Atlanta, and a Masters and Ph.D. degrees from University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy.

He leaves his beloved Judy, nee Norris, his wife of 49 years. He was the proudest father of daughter Laura and the late Scott Stoll of Buffalo Grove, and daughter Stephanie and her husband Martin (Irgang) of Long Grove. He was the adored Papa of Molly, Matthew, Danielle, Becca, Shayna and the late Rebecca. He was predeceased by his sisters Sondra and Claire and his brother Edgar.

He will be missed by many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Dr. Slatkin was a respected leader in the field of pharmacy education. He provided the leadership in establishing three colleges of pharmacy. He was Founding Dean and Dean Emeritus of the Chicago State University College of Pharmacy, Founding Dean and Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the Midwestern University (MWU) College of Pharmacy – Glendale, and Founding Dean of the Chicago College of Pharmacy at MWU. Prior to joining MWU, he was on the faculty of University of Pittsburgh, School of Pharmacy for almost 20 years and served as Assistant Dean for Student Affairs and Director of Graduate Programs. His first faculty position was at Northeast Louisiana University School of Pharmacy.

He focused his research on Pharmacognosy and authored over eighty scientific publications. He served as a reviewer for the Journal of Natural Products and Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and was the advisor for many graduate students. He was very active in professional and scientific organizations, including serving as Treasurer of the American Society of Pharmacognosy for 30 years. In 1999, Dr. Slatkin was selected by American Pharmacist magazine as one of the 50 Most Influential Pharmacists in the US. In 2012, Chicago State University established a symposium honoring his career.

Most important among his academic accomplishments was the education and mentoring of pharmacy students. He was also active in many community and Jewish organizations – always willing to help whenever and wherever he was needed. He will be remembered for his devotion to his family and for his generous and kind nature.

Service Thursday 11 AM at Chicago Jewish Funerals, 195 North Buffalo Grove Road (One Block N. of Lake Cook Rd.) Buffalo Grove. Interment Shalom. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Society of Pharmacognosy Foundation at www.pharmacognosy.us/the-asp-foundation or c/o Robert Krueger, Treasurer, PO Box 1667, Big Rapids, MI 49307. Arrangements By Chicago Jewish Funerals-Buffalo Grove, 847.229.8822, www.cjfinfo.com