Dr. Aronson earned his bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Rice University in Houston, Texas, and his Ph.D. in biochemistry from Duke University in Durham, N.C. He completed post-doctoral work in cell biology at Rockefeller University and molecular biology at Vanderbilt University. In addition, Dr. Aronson completed a Guggenheim Fellowship, British-American Heart Fellowship, Helen Way Whitney Postdoctoral Fellowship, and NIH Predoctoral Fellowship. Dr. Aronson also was recognized as president of the Association of Chairmen of Biochemistry Departments of Medical Schools and was mentioned by name in the 1974 Nobel Prize acceptance speech of his postdoctoral mentor, Dr. Christian de Duve.
After serving in the biochemistry department at Penn State for 23 years, Dr. Aronson joined USA in 1992, where he stayed for the remainder of his academic career. Dr. Aronson retired from USA in 2007, after 15 years of service to the University.
While at USA, Dr. Aronson served in numerous roles. He was a member of the USA College of Medicine’s Executive Council; LCME sub-committee chair for the basic science departments; member and chair of medical admissions; chair of the Distinguished Scientists Seminar Program; BEAR minority teacher and a member of the committee; chair of the University Conflict of Interest Committee; LCME sub-committee chair for governance/administration; faculty senate; and a member of the patent committee.
Dr. Aronson was a reviewer for many professional journals and was a member of the American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, the Association of Medical and Graduate Departments of Biochemistry, the British Biochemical Society and the Society for Glycobiology.
Dr. Aronson is survived by his loving wife Judy Fuller Aronson and their three children: Michael Goodman Aronson (Keri), Molly Elizabeth Aronson Stevens (Tyler), and Jennifer Fuller Aronson (Peter).
A memorial service will be held at the Springhill Avenue Temple on March 4, 2015, at 2:30 p.m. with family visitation at 1:30 p.m.
Donations in honor of Dr. Aronson can be made to the Springhill Avenue Temple, Covenant Hospice, or the USA College of Medicine.
