Dr. Erik Gram Ellgaard, the associate chairman of Tulane’s department of cell and molecular biology, died of cancer July 6, 1999 at his summer home in Wisconsin.
Everyone at Tulane who knew Erik liked him. He had a unique way of making people feel special and that their lives were important. Dr. Jean Daniels of the Tulane Honors Program described how many of us feel about Erik at his memorial service, saying "Erik was a private man with a tremendous public purpose, and all of us who were fortunate to have known him have been profoundly touched by this very special person. One could speak about his many contributions to biology, to his work on Drosophila Melanogaster and on many other unpronounceable species, but this is not to capture the essence of Erik Ellgaard. He was a man of great love with strong commitments. He loved his family, his friends, his students -- and his commitment to them was his driving force. And, he had a very special love of Newcomb College where he worked to bring women into science and on into the medical and professional schools.
"His
work with undergraduate and graduate students was legend. He had the
highest standards, and students, to their own surprise, rose to his
expectations. Over the years, he directed 29 undergraduate honors
theses. How many others he helped, we will never know -- for his was
always a helping hand. And, even though it is not possible to determine
the precise number of students whom he shepherded on to life in general and to
graduate and medical school in particular -- this, we do know:
"Erik Ellgaard touched those with whom he came in contact. His students left Tulane better persons for having worked with him, and -- in turn -- became better doctors, more sensitive professors and better researchers. Directly or indirectly, all of us have benefited from his presence. For Erik not only taught biology -- he taught much more. He taught us integrity, a sense of justice and fairness, and patience in an all too impatient world. He taught us how to confront adversity with a sense of grace and dignity. Erik Ellgaard not only embodied but lived by those ideas and ideals essential to the betterment of all humankind. I am honored to have been his friend, and all of us are fortunate for having shared in and benefited from the life of this truly exceptional person. As we go forward -- each one of us will carry a part of what we have learned from knowing Erik and -- in this way -- his legacy will continue. He will be missed -- he will be remembered."
Dr. Ellgaard received a bachelor of arts in history from Drake University in 1961, and a Ph.D in zoology and genetics from the University of Iowa in 1968. Dr. Ellgaard joined Tulane’s faculty as an assistant professor of biology in 1970. He served the university’s biology department, which later became the department of cell and molecular biology, in various capacities including director of graduate studies, assistant chairman, associate professor and associate chairman.
Dr. Ellgaard received numerous academic honors during his years at Tulane, including Newcomb College’s Outstanding Faculty Advisor Award (1985); the Randolph C. Reed Award for Excellence in Teaching, Liberal Arts and Sciences (1992); the Student and Senate Award for Excellence in Academic Advising, College of Arts and Sciences (1992); the Mortar Board Award for Excellence in Teaching, Newcomb College, (1992); the Tulane College Senate Award for Distinguished Service (1997); the Tulane College Senior Class Outstanding Advisor Award for Exemplary Service to Students (1997); H. Sophie Newcomb Memorial College Distinguished Newcomb Fellow (1997); the Tulane Honors Program Professor of the Year (1997) and the Sheldon Hackney Award for Excellence in Teaching (1997). Since 1991, Dr. Ellgaard was a Residential Fellow for Tulane’s Residential Learning Program.
Dr. Ellgaard published articles in numerous academic journals throughout his career. His areas of major research interests included insect development and behavior and the effects of pollution on the environment. He was a member of the Louisiana Academy of Science and the American Mosquito Control Association.
The Erik G. Ellgaard fund for undergraduate research has been established in Professor Ellgaard’s honor. Donations to the fund can be made to Tulane’s Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, 2000 Stern Hall, New Orleans, LA 70118.
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