Dr. Lon D. Hodge

Dr. Lon D. Hodge of Augusta, GA, died December 25, 2024. He is survived by his wife, Sandra A. Hodge of Augusta, GA, daughter Dr. Julia A. Hodge of Hillsboro, OR, and grandson Calvin J. Richmond of Hillsboro, OR. Lon was born on April 23, 1935, the son of Dorothy Olcott Hodge, Worcester, MA, and Everett Duncan Hodge, also of Worcester, MA.

Lon was a graduate of Classical High School, Worcester, MA, where he ran both indoor track and outdoor cross country track. He graduated from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA with a BS in Science. He married Sandra A. Pelczarski in 1955. They moved to Philadelphia, PA, where in 1961, he graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, PA, as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. In 1961 he entered the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and graduated in 1966 with a PhD in Biochemical Genetics. He received a postdoctoral fellowship in the Department of Cell Biology, Albert Einstein School of Medicine, Bronx, NY. After two years he was awarded a Career Development Award and Research Grant by the National Institute of Health with a position at the Wistar Institute, University of Pennsylvania, PA. In 1971, as an Assitant Professor, he moved his laboratory to Yale University in New Haven, CT. As an Associate Professor in 1978, he joined the Medical College of Georgia as a Full Professor in the Department of Microbiology. During his academic years, with graduate students and doctoral fellows, he did research in molecular cell biology and molecular virology, funded by grants awarded by the National Institute of Health and the American Cancer Society. He also taught corses in Medical Virology, Anatomy, and Cell Bioloby at both Yale University and the Medical College of Georgia. In 2000 he retired from the Medical College of Georgia, as a Professor Emeritus of Cell Biology and Anatomy, and Professor Emeritus of the School of Graduate Studies.

He was a member of the Georgia Carolina Veterinary Medical Association, the Georgia Carolina Stamp Club, Sons of the American Revolution (William Few Chapter), Early American Pattern Glass Society, National American Glass Club, and a life member in the National Philatelic Society. Lon was an avid gardener and loved animals, especially cats.

Burial will be in the New Hope Cemetery, Worcester, MA.