Carmine Paul Bianchi, 86, pharmacology professor

Carmine Paul Bianchi, 86, of Boothwyn, a professor of pharmacology in Philadelphia for many years, died Tuesday, Aug. 13, of a digestive ailment at Taylor Hospice House in Ridley Park.

Born in Newark, N.J., and raised in Maplewood, Dr. Bianchi served as an Army surgical technician in Tilton General Hospital at Fort Dix from 1945 to 1947.

He earned a bachelor's degree in chemistry from Columbia University in 1950, a master's in physiology and biochemistry from Rutgers University in 1953, and a doctorate in physiology and physical chemistry in 1956 from Rutgers.

In the 1950s, he did research at Rutgers and was a public health fellow and visiting scientist at the National Institutes of Health in Maryland.

From 1961 to 1976, he held a number of jobs in the department of pharmacology in the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. That culminated in his being named professor of pharmacology.

Dr. Bianchi left in 1976 for Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University, where he became pharmacology professor and chairman of the pharmacology department from 1976 to 1987. In 1987, he stepped down from the chairmanship but remained professor of pharmacology. He retired in 1997 as professor emeritus.

Dr. Bianchi was a member of many professional groups, including the New York Academy of Sciences and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

He was a leader and author in pharmacology, helping edit an industry journal and making himself available for consultation to medical examiners and experts in toxicology.

He wrote or contributed to three books and 200 scientific papers and lectured widely. He enjoyed mentoring medical and graduate students.

His family called Dr. Bianchi "a true renaissance man" who was as comfortable discussing English, history, and politics as he was the sciences.

He liked to cook, especially bouillabaisse and the family's Thanksgiving turkey.

His faith was a strong element of his life; he was a deacon and an elder at Swarthmore Presbyterian Church.

He lived in Media and Swarthmore before retiring to Boothwyn eight years ago.

He married the former Judith Holman. She died in 1989. A sister also preceded him in death.

Surviving are his wife, the former Eleanor J. Gizzi; daughters Margaret A., Alison Edwards, Judith H., and Joyclyn Agatone; four grandchildren; and a great-grandchild.

Visitation will be from 8:45 to 9:45 a.m. Monday, Aug. 19, at Nolan-Fidale Funeral Home, 5980 Chichester Ave., Aston, followed by an 11 a.m. funeral at Swarthmore Presbyterian Church, 727 Harvard Ave., Swarthmore. Interment will be in East Lawn Cemetery.

Contributions may be made to his alma mater via http://giving.columbia.edu/.