Hans Neurath
The Bial-Neurath Family
Edmond Fischer (Nobel Prize 1992), a friend and colleague in the department:
My first encounter with Hans was really bizarre. When I arrived at Caltec there was a letter waiting for me from a Dr. Hans Neurath. By the way I knew him from the literature. He had written a superb article on proteins. I knew his name very well and I never forget “Dear Dr. Fischer, I heard from Max Delbrück that you would be spending some time at Caltec and I would like to speak to you about something that would be of mutual interest.” I asked someone there what does he mean by that? “He wants to offer you a job.” I thought in this country they are crazy. In Switzerland at that time after the war there was a job one in a million. And in America each time you went they offer you a job. Hans writes to me. There is a meeting of the American Chemical Society at the Bilmore Hotel. In two weeks I will meet you on Friday at 12 o’clock under the clock in the entrance to the hotel. I go to that meeting. Coming from Switzerland I was so hungry of hearing talks. There was a talk from 11 to 12 but it was late and it was unthinkable for me to get up and leave the talk. I arrived 15 minutes late. Hans couldn’t believe that this jerk from Switzerland made him wait 15 minutes. He was with a young fellow with the name of Ed Krebs. And he was absolutely livid. I was totally relaxed. Seattle for me was halfway to Alaska. I had no particular intentions of going there. And after a while, Hans said: “Let’s go eat.” In the middle of the meal he asked, “Besides science, what do you like to do?” Well I said, coming from Switzerland, I like to ski, climb mountains, I like to play the piano.” He had a smile from here to there. From there on I was in. I could do no wrong. And we became very good friends.
Hans was a very good friend. He was very bright. But not only was he bright but he recognized excellence. He did not feel menaced by bringing in fine people to the department. Hans recognized quality. When he took over as chairman, he immediately took things in hand and within ten years he made it one of the best biochemistry departments in the country, I think we were No. 4 or 5.
Hans’ research was very significant. The books THE PROTEINS that made him world famous.
In regard to his work at the Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum. Hans was very courageous to undertake that at an advanced age. He was a fighter.
He was a remarkable fellow. And he had a huge sense of humor. A great, great sense of humor. Always loved jokes. Absolutely.