American scientist Dr. Richard F. Heck, a 2005 Wallace Carothers awardee and 2010 Nobel Prize laureate in Chemistry, died on Oct. 10, Saturday in Manila, Philippines.
Heck, along with Japanese scientists Ei-ichi Negishi of Purdue University in Indiana and Akira Suzuki of Hokkaido University in Japan, won the Nobel for successfully cross coupling carbon molecules using palladium as a catalyst.
Dubbed the Heck Reaction, this groundbreaking discovery led to breakthroughs in drug development. It played a vital role in creating new types of drugs for cancer, asthma, HIV, migraine headaches and other diseases.
The Heck Reaction also helped improve the method of DNA sequencing by allowing organic dyes to bind with DNA bases. The process he discovered is also currently used to produce various consumer, electronic and industrial products, ranging from sunscreens to computer monitors.
Thomas Colacot, a specialist in the field of chemistry describes this process as "the reaction of the 21st century."
Nancy M. Targett, acting president of the University of Delaware, where Heck worked for 18 years and later became professor emeritus, recognized his contribution.
"His groundbreaking work that was saluted by the Nobel Prize Committee demonstrates how scientific inquiry can have a profound effect on everyday lives of us all," Targett said.
Heck chose to retire with his Filipino wife, Socorro Nardo-Heck, in Manila. His wife's nephew, Michael Nardo, looked after him after Socorro died in 2012.
Heck, however, suffered for years from diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and slight dementia. Two private nurses took turns in caring for him in his home in Quezon City.
His wife's relatives said that Heck lost his entire life's savings due to medical care and treatments.
"It's very sad. He was relying on his monthly pension of $2,500 to get by," said Nardo.
Heck was also constantly admitted in hospitals since 2013 due to pneumonia.
"He lost almost half of his strength after the pneumonia episode," Nardo recounted.
Heck died in a hospital on Saturday after a fit of severe vomiting. The cause of death was not specified. He was 84 years old.
