Honoring the Life and Legacy of Dr. Alastair Brownie

Dear Jacobs School community,

It is with great sadness that I share the news that our longtime colleague and friend, Alexander (Alastair) C. Brownie, PhD, DSc, SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor emeritus of biochemistry, passed away early this morning, March 11. He had just celebrated his 95th birthday on Friday.

Dr. Brownie served the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences for more than 60 years, a remarkable and enduring legacy that few can match. A beloved faculty member in the Department of Biochemistry, he was a true force of nature — brilliant, curious, deeply dedicated to scientific discovery, and passionately committed to educating generations of physicians and scientists. 

Even into his nineties, he continued to come to campus and teach, bringing his characteristic energy and enthusiasm to every interaction. He also remained an engaged and thoughtful scholar. He was a frequent visitor to my office, often arriving with articles in hand, eager to share new research that had inspired him. His abiding passion for biochemistry, metabolism, and teaching enriched our community in countless ways. I will miss him immensely — especially those visits, his curiosity, and the generosity with which he shared his ideas.

His devotion to biochemistry and metabolism was matched only by his devotion to his students. Those who learned from him, and those who were fortunate enough to work alongside him, know how profoundly he shaped our community. His absence will be felt immediately and deeply.

In his final days, he was surrounded by the love and presence of family and friends, many of whom traveled from across the country and from Europe to be by his side. Their presence was a testament to the impact he had on so many lives, both personally and professionally.

Please join me in holding his family, friends, colleagues, and the countless students whose lives he touched in our thoughts during this difficult time. Dr. Brownie leaves behind a legacy that will endure in our classrooms, laboratories, and in the many professionals he helped shape. We are profoundly grateful for his lifetime of service to the Jacobs School.

As we come together to reflect on his remarkable legacy, we will share details about how the Jacobs School will honor his life, his scholarship, and his extraordinary six decades of service to our community. His impact will continue to inspire us for years to come.

With sincere sympathy,

Allison Brashear, MD, MBA
Dean, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
Vice President for Health Sciences, University at Buffalo
President and CEO, UBMD Physicians' Group