Richard C. Crain Jr., 47, a professor of biochemistry at the University for 18 years, died September 3 of a heart attack.

Crain's work with Ruth Satter, a plant physiologist, made them renowned leaders in understanding the process of signal transduction in plants, the process by which plants respond to their external environments.

Crain graduated from Pittsford High School in western New York state in 1969 and was awarded a Bausch and Lomb Scholarship for excellence in science. A record-setting distance runner, he was named the top academic athlete of his graduating class. His classmates voted him as most reliable and trustworthy.

After receiving his undergraduate degree in chemistry at Dartmouth, Crain earned a doctoral degree in biochemistry at the University of Rochester. He went on to Cornell University for post-doctoral work.

While Crain was at Rochester and Cornell, he gained an international reputation for his work with phospholipid transfer proteins, which catalyze the movement of cell membrane components between membranes.

Crain joined the faculty of the Department of Molecular and Cell Biology at UConn in 1980. He has published more than 50 original research papers.

He is survived by his wife of 26 years, Elizabeth Crain, whom he met in high school, and by his two sons, Cullen and Jason.

"Richard's family, professional colleagues and students will remember him as someone who was always there when you needed him," says Philip Yeagle, professor and department head, molecular and cell biology.

Eugene Policelli, 62, who worked in Career Services for many years, died August 23, 1998, at Yale-New Haven Hospital.

"He was a true professional and a good friend," said Kevin Fahey, president of UCPEA, the professional employees' association.

"He positively touched the lives of many students and staff at UConn. He will be dearly missed."

Born in Orange, N.J., Policelli held a bachelor's degree in philosophy from St. Lawrence Seminary, a master's degree in classics from Fordham University, and a Ph.D. in medieval studies from UConn.

Policelli served as a career counselor at UConn for numerous years, and most recently was assistant director of career services. He was an active member of UCPEA and served as a grievance officer for the union until he retired last year after 25 years at the University.

He also taught as an adjunct professor at Central Connecticut State University and served on the Board of Education in South Windsor for 12 years. He published articles in various professional journals and also wrote for the Hartford Courant.

After his retirement from UConn, Policelli became director of graduate services at Yale University.

He is survived by his wife, Ann Policelli, three children and a daughter-in-law.

A funeral service was held on August 28. Donations in his memory may be made to the Dr. Eugene F. Policelli Scholarship Fund, c/o Bank of South Windsor, Attn: Susan Maloney, 1695 Ellington Road, South Windsor, CT 06074.