In remembrance of Talmon Arad

We were deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Talmon Arad, former Research Technician, who died on Friday 5 April 2019.

Talmon joined the Structural and Computational Biology Unit at EMBL in Heidelberg as a Research Technician from 1976 to 1984. He was an immense help to me and our motley group of pioneers who were based for the first two years in what was known as the “alte Baracken” (old barracks). This was the start of electron microscopy at EMBL. After we moved into the brand new EMBL building, Talmon’s work included collaborating in the study of crystals of mitochondrial membrane proteins with Hanns Weiss’s group.  

Later, working together with Ada Yonath who was a visitor at EMBL from the Weizmann Institute, Talmon continued to use state-of-the-art electron microscopy techniques, this time to improve the ribosome crystals which Ada was working with for synchrotron diffraction.

Talmon continued to collaborate with me after he left EMBL in 1984, offering a course together on 3D reconstruction, and returning to use EMBL facilities.  

Although most recently he was officially retired, Talmon continued to work as a consultant, helping students and researchers in the use of electron microscopes at the Weizmann Institute.

We have lost a great friend and technical mind, and will miss Talmon enormously.  Talmon is survived by his wife, Lea Arad-Kleinberger, and his sons, Yarom, Yoad and Ilai Arad. 

Kevin Leonard