Loyola celebrates the life of Charles “Charlie” R. Graham, Jr., Ph.D., professor emeritus of biology

Charles “Charlie” R. Graham, Jr., Ph.D., professor emeritus of biology, passed away on Monday, Aug. 5, 2024. He was 84.

Graham, a 1962 graduate of Loyola, joined the faculty in 1966 as an associate professor of biology and gained tenure in 1980. He retired in 2006 after 40 years of teaching. 

“I had the distinct pleasure of knowing Charlie Graham for 44 years. He was my teacher, my mentor, my colleague, and my friend,” said Andrew Schoeffield, Ph.D., associate professor of biology. “While an undergraduate, Charlie was my professor for hydrobiology, a course that involved numerous field trips to regions of the Chesapeake and Mid-Atlantic. I will never forget Charlie looking at water samples under the microscope at the kitchen table at 2 a.m. while we worked at the Horn Point Laboratory near Cambridge, Md., nor will I forget his bleary-eyed enthusiasm at 2 a.m.”

Born on June 17, 1940, in Baltimore, Md., Graham graduated from Mount Saint Joseph College High School before attending Loyola, where he was a member of the Greyhounds soccer and wrestling teams. He then earned his M.S. in Biology and his Ph.D. in Ichthyology and Cell Biology from the University of Delaware. 

While his primary fields of study were ichthyology, marine biology, and physiology—specifically that of sharks—Graham also had an interest in corneal tissue research and its applications for the sight-saving surgical procedure known as keratoplasty or corneal transplantation. He completed a National Institutes of Health postdoctoral study grant with Marquette Medical School between 1967-70, which involved pioneer work in the freezing of ocular membranes. Graham later became involved with the Medical Eye Bank of Maryland, where he designed and equipped the cryo-preservation lab.

Graham was named laboratory director of the Eye Bank in 1974, a position he held until 1985. In that role, he oversaw a team of student technicians who performed several important tasks, including the identification, retrieval, and preservation and storage of donor tissue, followed by the identification of a recipient and delivery of the tissue. Delivery was often international as there were large populations of individuals in need of corneal transplants in Afghanistan, Brazil, and Israel.

In 1977, Graham, along with Frederick N. Griffith, executive director of the Medical Eye Bank, was invited by the Polish Ministry of Health to present a paper at the September meeting of the International Symposium on the Preservation and Storage of Organs and Tissues for Transplantation. It was the only presentation directly related to eye banking among tissue bank representatives from 13 countries.

Graham served as chair of Loyola’s biology department from 1975-77. He was involved in coordinating the January travel term, with trips to Florida, the Galapagos Islands, and Mexico, as well as the scuba diving club. He held several professional memberships, including the American Association of Tissue Banks, the American Society of Zoologists, the Atlantic Estuarine Research Society, the National Association of Advisors to the Health Professions, and Sigma Xi, the Scientific Research Honor Society. 

As an active member of the Loyola community, Graham participated in faculty intramural sports including softball and flag football. He enjoyed amateur theater, carpentry, golf, singing, and wrestling. 

“I played intramural softball against him. He was the faculty team pitcher and was hilarious,” remembered Schoeffield. “He would announce ‘Here comes a fat one!’...and it was...slow and low and easy to hit. I played flag football with him in the annual Biology vs. Chemistry/Physics/Engineering Thanksgiving flag football game.”

Graham is survived by his wife, Patricia Cole Graham; their four children, Charles Raymond Graham III, ’85, Kelly Graham Curtis, Michael Emory Graham, ’93, and Kerri Graham Brown; and grandson, Jason Curtis.

“We celebrated often at Pat and Charlie's house,” said Schoeffield. “They were so open and welcoming. He was such a student-centered and student-friendly faculty member. I attempted to emulate Charlie's care and concern for students, all while upholding the rigorous principles of science. I will be forever grateful for his wisdom, enthusiasm, and thoughtful perspectives on teaching...on science...on life.”

Graham will be remembered in the intentions at Mass in Loyola’s Alumni Memorial Chapel on Friday, Sept. 13, at 12:10 p.m. All are welcome.

Arrangements

Details of the family’s arrangements will be shared with the community as they are finalized.