Dr. Carl R. Mackerer Carl R. Mackerer, 76, passed peacefully in the company of his family on September 16, 2016 in Newtown, PA. He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Marie (Kempster); three children: Mary Ferlise (Frank), Carl Mackerer (Nathalie), and Linda Gates (Carey); sister Judith Leone, grandchildren Giancarlo, Ryan, Kevin and Carl; and many nieces and nephews.
Family man, scientist, businessman, and champion bowler, Carl R. Mackerer was a man of many talents, recognized for achievements in the fields of medical biochemistry and sports. From leading vital discoveries in the biosciences to repairing cars, he brought passion and intelligence to his diverse interests. His great joys were taking his wife, Marie, on business trips, and vacationing with his family on roads trips across the country, to Ocean City, NJ, and to Disneyworld. He was a lifelong resident of New Jersey.
Competitive in nature, Carl began an illustrious and award-winning bowling career at an early age, scoring numerous 300 and 700 point series games throughout his long life in the sport. News reports chronicled his rise to fame: “Doctor Mackerer Operates On West Lanes for a 300” and “Holy Mackerer! He’s on the Ball” and “Carl Mackerer Slams 290 – 300 En Route to City’s High 792”. He bowled competitively on national TV, and was inducted into the Rutgers University Athletic Hall of Fame in 1985.
Dr. Mackerer led a distinguished leadership career in medical biochemistry, toxicology and the environmental health sciences. Born in Jersey City, NJ in 1940 to Carl J. and Kathryn T. Mackerer, Dr. Mackerer received his undergraduate (1963) and graduate (1968) degrees in Biology, Chemistry and Biochemistry from Rutgers University at Newark, NJ. He received his doctorate in Medical Biochemistry (1972) from the University of Nebraska Medical School, Omaha, where he served as instructor.
From 1972 to 1978, Dr. Mackerer directed research in central nervous systems and the development of novel pharmaceutical agents at Searle Laboratories, Chicago, IL. In 1978, he joined Mobil Oil Corporation’s Environmental and Health Sciences Laboratory, where he initially managed biochemical toxicology research. In 1987, as Assistant Director of Toxicology, he oversaw the establishment of Mobil’s state-of-the-art Research and Testing programs and facilities in Pennington, NJ. In 1989, he became General Manager of Mobil’s Environmental Health Sciences program, leading all related research and development of the company’s more than 2,200 products, processes and services.
In 1993, Dr. Mackerer was named President of Stonybrook Laboratories, the global subsidiary of Mobil. He remained with Mobil until the merger with Exxon in 2000. He then formed C&C Consulting, providing expertise and research program guidance in petroleum and petrochemical toxicology to international clients, trade associations, the EPA and agencies such as OECD.
Dr. Mackerer’s expertise in biochemistry and pharmacology brought new approaches to toxicity testing and research, which aided in the improvement and development of safer, more effective products in the petroleum industry. He received 17 patents for toxicology test methods and the development of non-carcinogenic or bio-resistant petroleum-based products for industrial and pharmaceutical use; and he was author of over 200 original research publications, presentations, reviews, and textbook chapters. With his research team, Dr. Mackerer shepherded development of the Modified Ames Assay, in which the accurate detection of potentially harmful carcinogens was reduced from two years to two weeks. So effective was this test that Mobil donated the patent to the public domain for global use without restriction.
Dr. Mackerer held prominent memberships with the American Society of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, the American Chemical Society, the Society of Experimental Biology and Medicine, and the Society of Toxicology.
Calling hours will take place Friday, September 23rd from 6 to 8pm and Saturday, September 24th from 10 to 11am at the Wilson-Apple Funeral Home, 2560 Pennington Road (Pennington Circle), Pennington, NJ with services to follow at 11am. Interment will be private. Condolences may be made to www.WilsonApple.com In lieu of flowers, the Mackerer Family has suggested donations, in Dr. Mackerer’s name, to the Alzheimer’s Association at www.alz.org.
