Dr. John Edwin Tobie

Dr. John Edwin Tobie, a former Assistant Scientific Director for Laboratory and Clinical Research at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases with the National Institute of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, died on September 6, 2000 at Heron Point in Chestertown, Maryland. He was 88. Dr. Tobie''s scientific interests focused on microbiology and parasitology. He is best known for having developed the fluorescent antibody technique for detecting malarial antibodies. Born December 26, 1911in Collison, Illinois, the son of the late Reverend Edwin L. and Carrie Jane Mansfield Tobie. Dr. Tobie was a 1929 graduate from High School, a 1935 graduate with a B.A. from the University of Illinois, in 1936 he received his M.S. from Louisiana State University in Parasitology, and in 1940 he received his Ph.D. from Tulane University in Parasitology. His Thesis in 1940 was on the Experimental studies on the pathogenicity of human "carrier" strains of Endamoeba histolytica in the dog. Dr. Tobie''s employment began in 1940 as Research Fellow in Tropical Medicine at Tulane University, where from 1941-1943 he served as Instructor in Tropical Medicine. In 1943 he moved to Bethesda, Md. and worked with the National Institute of Health as Assistant Protozoologist in the Division of Zoology. In 1943 to 1946 he worked as Chief of the Dept. of Parasitology in the 19th and 406 Medical General Laboratory, with the U.S. Army during WWII. He was honorably discharged as Major in 1946. Returning to the N.I.H. in 1946 he worked as a Parasitologist with the Laboratory of Tropical Diseases until 1957 when he transferred to the Laboratory of Immunology as a Biologist, he served in this capacity until 1959. From 1959 until 1960 he served as Assistant to the Chief and Acting Head of the Applied Immunology Section with the Laboratory of Immunology N.I.H. and from 1960-1963 he was Acting Chief and Head of the Applied Immunology Section. In 1963 he served as Chief of the Laboratory of Germfree Animal Research in the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases with the N.I.H. until 1969 when he served as Chief of the Laboratory of Microbial Immunity and Assistant Scientific Director of Laboratory and Clinical Research for the N.I.A.I.D., N.I.H. in Bethesda, Maryland. A position from which he retired. Dr. Tobie was a member of several societies including: American Association of Immunologists, The New York Academy of Sciences, Tropical Medicine Association of D.C., the Association of Gnotobiotics, and the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, of which he was an emeritus member at the time of his death. His honors and special scientific recognition include Phi Kappa Phi, Sigma Xi, Teaching Fellow in Parasitology at LSU from 1934 until 1937, Superior Service Award with the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare in April of 1963, and a Fellow with the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Dr. Tobie''s research interests consisted of the basic studies on antibody production and immunoglobulin synthesis in hosts infected with living microbial agents or after introduction of antigenic fractions. The cellular localization of microorganisms and their antibodies by means of fluorescent antibody methods. Dr Tobie enjoyed woodcarving, gardening, and fishing. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, the former Eleanor Johnson, who was a research parasitologist at the N.I.H. They made their home in Bethesda, Md. until 1991 when they moved to Chestertown. Dr. Tobie was a member of First United Methodist Church in Chestertown. Memorial services will be held on Saturday September 16, 2000 at 3:00 P.M. at Wesley Hall at Heron Point. Inurnment services will be held privately. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to Heron Point 501 East Campus Ave. Chestertown, Md. 21620. Arrangements by Fellows, Helfenbein, and Newnam Funeral Home Chestertown, Md.