It is with great sadness that we share the news of Dr. Helen Henry's passing. She will be remembered for her extensive contributions to the field of Biochemistry along with her grace and kindness. A memorial service for Dr. Henry will be held September 5th, 2018 from 3pm-5pm at the UCR Alumni & Visitors Center.

Here is the obituary sent by CNAS Dean Kathryn Ulrich:

"...Helen touched careers and lives throughout the UCR community and was a highly dedicated scientist and educator, known for her intellectual curiosity and innovation in education. 

Helen received her Ph.D. in 1970 from Washington University, St. Louis and did postdoctoral work in animal reproduction at Ohio State University. Following postdoctoral work at UCR, she joined the faculty and progressed to the rank of Professor of Biochemistry.

To all her activities at UCR she brought a “rare elegance, style and grace.” As Associate Dean of Biological Sciences from 1990-1996, she was known for being reasonable and smart and able to resolve problems, helping to calmly focus discussions into productive conversations.  She contributed significantly to the affairs of the Riverside Division of the Academic Senate by serving on multiple committees and notably, she and former Senate Chair Anthony Norman sponsored the renovation of the Senate conference room. 

She had a great passion for teaching and greatly encouraged learning.  She was a kind-hearted teacher, considering not only learning, but student health and well-being.  As Chair of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, where she served for over a decade, she demonstrated a quietly assertive leadership and dedication to animal care in research and teaching. 

Throughout her career Helen was known for her support of faculty. She was a strong role model who welcomed new faculty to campus. Even after retiring, she continued to provide advice, consultation and support to junior faculty. Helen equally provided support and respect to staff.  As IACUC Chair, she ensured staff were recognized for hard work and significant accomplishments. 

Helen’s laboratory made major contributions to the understanding of vitamin D metabolism, particularly regulation of the production of the active vitamin D hormone by the kidney. She pioneered the use of cell culture systems to study renal vitamin D metabolism. A related area of research focus was the regulation of gene expression in the kidney by 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3. More recently, her research was concerned with the regulation of steroid hormones at the point of synthesis. Specifically examining, at the cellular and molecular level, the regulation of the production of the calcium regulating steroid hormone, 1,25dihydroxyvitamin D3, (1,25(OH)2D3) whose synthesis is catalyzed by a mitochondrial cytochrome P450-dependent mixed function oxidase.

In addition to peer-reviewed research articles, Helen authored a number of textbooks with her spouse, Professor of Biochemistry Anthony W. Norman, including Encyclopedia of Hormones, and Hormones, Helen authored chapters for the books Vitamin D and Handbook of Physiology, as well as the chapter on “Vitamin D Metabolism” for this textbook. She was awarded a National Institutes of Health (NIH) Research Career Development Award in 1977, Public Health Service Career Development Award (1978-1983), received the Fuller Albright Award from the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research in 1984, and served this Society as a member of the Council and several Scientific Program Committees. She was a member of the NIH General Medicine B Study Section (1989-1993) and the National Science Foundation Panel on Integrative Biology (1994-1996).

She served on the editorial boards of several scientific journals, including Endocrinology, American Journal of Physiology, and the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research. She was a member of the Endocrine Society, the American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research, and the American Institute of Nutritional Sciences. In 2003, she was named a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Helen is survived by her husband, Dr. Anthony W. Norman, UCR Distinguished Professor of Biochemistry & Biomedical Sciences, Emeritus; children, Thea Norman, Jacqueline Norman, and Derek Norman; brother, Mahlon Pitt, and nine grandchildren. The Norman family-UCR legacy continues with Jacqueline Norman serving as our campus architect."