Winona Vernberg

Winona B. Vernberg passed away on December 29, 2008. After retiring from USC, Columbia, SC, in 1996, she moved to Saluda, NC. Winona was born in Kansas on January 9, 1924. She received a B.S. degree from Kansas State College of Pittsburg in 1944, an M.S. degree from DePauw University in 1947, and a Ph.D. degree in Zoology from Purdue University in 1951. She served in the U.S. Navy from 1944 to 1945 and married John F. Vernberg on September 9, 1945. Professional experience includes the following: Instructor, DePauw University, 1947-1949; Research Associate Professor, Duke University, 1951-1969; Research Professor of Biology, USC, 1969-1975; Public Health Professor of Biology, USC, 1975-1977; Acting Dean, School of Public Health, USC, 1977-1978, and Dean, 1978-1995. During 1996 she served as the Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost, USC. In addition to serving on boards and committees relating to various state-oriented foundations and agencies, she was active at the national and international levels: National Advisory Committee on Oceans and Atmosphere (1974-1976), Science Advisory Committee for PRIMA, Program of the National Science Foundation (1977-1979), Executive Committee, Science Advisory Board EPA (1978-1982), National Advisory Council, NASA (1979-1982), President, Council on Education for Public Health (1984-1986). She was a member of Phi Beta Kappa, Fulbright-Hayes fellow to Brazil, Russell Award for Research in Science, and recipient of the William S. Proctor Prize for Scientific Achievement, Sigma Xi (1983). She published 127 papers in scientific journals and reports and trained many graduate students. Surviving are her husband, F. John Vernberg, daughters, Amy Beekman and Marcia Verberg, and son, Eric Vernberg. She also has three granddaughters, Haley Beekman, Amanda Snoddy, and Amy Godfrey, three grandsons, Scott Lewis, Stefan Vernberg, Drew Beekman, and three great-granddaughters, Courtney and Caroline Lewis, and Lizzie Snoddy. Memorial services are planned for January in Columbia, SC, and for January 9, 2009, at the Orchard Inn in Saluda. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Winona Vernberg Bicentennial Fellowship Fund, USC Development Office, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208. The J. F. Floyd Mortuary To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Winona B. Vernberg please visit our Sympathy Store.