Dr. Ira Richards, a USF College of Public Health (COPH) professor who specialized in toxicology, and Dr. Lillian Stark, a veteran of the Florida Department of Health Bureau of Laboratories, the 2005 COPH Florida Outstanding Woman in Public Health and a past adjunct assistant professor at the college, recently passed away.

Ira Richards, PhD

Richards was a member of the COPH faculty for over 35 years, joining the college in 1986 as an assistant professor of toxicology in the department of environmental and occupational health—a department he helped build from the ground up.

Richards received his PhD from New York University. In addition to his COPH faculty position, he was also a professor in the department of internal medicine at USF. He was a consultant to the Tampa Bay Poison Information Center, Southwest Florida Water Management District on pesticide-related health effects and a hazardous substances consultant and emergency responder to both the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office and the City of Tampa Fire and Rescue.

Expert in toxicology, respiratory irritants

His research interests centered on respiratory irritants and the expression of biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress from exposures to chemical agents. His lab was able to isolate single muscle fiber activity and record how that activity was affected by ambient toxicants. This led to his interest in red tide. Richards explored the effects of brevetoxin (a toxin that affects the central nervous system of fish) from red tide on pulmonary tissue.

One of Richard’s proudest achievements was his work developing a popular toxicology book, Principles and Practice of Toxicology in Public Health, used in many colleges of public health. The COPH’s Dr. Marie Bourgeois, a research assistant professor, helped author the book.

Funny and strong

“For those who may not have known him well, a visit to his office would tell you two things,” Dr. Donna Petersen, dean of the COPH, said. “First, you will be in awe of what can fit into 100 square feet. He grew up in New York City and maximizing space was a survival trait. Second, he loved books. He could tell you how thoughts evolved through editions, and how physiological systems deal with perturbations, especially disease and environmental insult. And he willingly shared his knowledge with those who would ask. You could also see the famous 10-year-old cupcake whose youth and vigor had benefited from trans fat.”

“He always made me laugh and smile.”

Dr. Steve Mlynarek, COPH professor focusing on industrial hygiene, remembers Richards as a humorous man with inordinate strength in the face of challenges. “He would come to my office once or twice a week and we would talk about everything wrong with the world, and everything right as well,” Mylnarek said. “These 15-minute vacations taught me a lot. He was able to face his troubles with a positive attitude. He was the toughest guy I knew.”

Dr. Tom Bernard, another COPH professor specializing in industrial hygiene, recalls the camaraderie he and Richards built around the picnic tables outside the NEC, discussing their future fates in the hands of the tenure and promotion committees.

Dr. Karen Liller, distinguished university health professor, remembers securing a seat next to Richards in the back of the room at faculty meetings. “No matter what was happening, he always made me laugh and smile. I have lost a lifelong friend,” she said. “His wry humor and very clever personal asides will be missed,” added Dr. Jay Wolfson, distinguished service professor of public health, medicine and pharmacy.

“He never failed to remind me that I was adequate. So, when I graduated I got him a paperweight that enshrined the term.”

Bourgeois also noted Richard’s dry wit.

“Ira was pure snark. As his grad student, I was informed that ‘adequate’ was high praise,” Bourgeois said. “He never failed to remind me that I was adequate. So, when I graduated, I got him a paperweight that enshrined the term.”

Lillian Stark, PhD, MPH

Two-time Bull Lillian Stark earned her PhD in biology from the university in 1976 and her MPH from the COPH in 1988. For over 40 years, she worked for the Florida Department of Health, tracking diseases and outbreaks.

In a Monday Letter interview she gave just prior to her retirement in 2012, Stark recounted how she became interested in public health.

Start in public health

“I was a doctoral student at USF in the ’70s and someone scooped my dissertation topic,” Stark said. “Around the same time, my husband Arnold and I were seeking employment and turned to JobCorp, the State of Florida’s job search system. We were both earning doctorates in marine biology, but JobCorp gave us very different job referrals. My husband received a referral card for a laboratory job doing epidemiology research. I was referred to a secretarial job. Obviously, the system was plagued by gender-bias. As luck would have it, Arnold secured a job with a private school so I took his referral card and interviewed for the lab job. I quickly surmised that I could readily do the lab work, but I needed to learn the language of public health. So, I enrolled in the college and took one course a semester until I finished.”

Dedicated public health servant

Thus started Stark’s long and storied career in virology and public health laboratories. In addition to her work with the Florida Department of Health, she also was a COPH adjunct assistant professor, teaching a course on public health laboratories. Over the years she mentored countless students, including COPH associate professor and alumna Dr. Jill Roberts.

“To me she was a brilliant, skilled, dedicated and driven role model and mentor. She instilled in me a passion for public health laboratory work that drives the work I do today.”

“At the service, it was mentioned that Dr. Stark was a force of nature and I cannot think of a more perfect description,” Roberts said. “She was an exemplary public health professional and highly respected in her field. To me, she was a brilliant, skilled, dedicated and driven role model and mentor. She instilled in me a passion for public health laboratory work that drives the work I do today.” 

Mentor and friend

Lea Heberlein, DrPH, a medical laboratory scientist and COPH alum, said Stark was an important mentor for her as well. “She (strongly) encouraged me to pursue a doctorate degree. She shaped my career, and I know she did the same for many other public health professionals.”

Natalie Preston, who’s now director of the COPH’s Office of Engagement and Constituent Relations, remembers first meeting Stark when she managed the college’s field experience program.

“I fondly recall my first meetings with Dr. Stark,” Preston said. “She would have my head spinning with virology-speak! She loved her work and made sure that every student who fell under her care had a rich practicum. Some students would go on to work in her lab on a full- or part-time basis. Dr. Stark was always kind to me, and we eventually developed a professional friendship. She will be missed.”

Story by Donna Campisano, USF College of Public Health