In Memoriam: Robert Bils, 85
Professor Emeritus of Biological Sciences Robert Bils has died. He was 85.
Bils died at his home on March 26 in Montebello, Calif., after a long struggle with lymphoma.
Before his retirement in 1996, Bils taught and conducted research at USC Dornsife for 37 years.
He is remembered as a skilled electron microscopist who played a crucial role in founding the Center for Electron Microscopy and Microanalysis (CEMMA) at USC, a facility jointly operated by USC Dornsife and the USC Viterbi School of Engineering. In 1983, under Bils’ leadership, USC received a National Institutes of Health grant to purchase a state-of-the-art transmission electron microscope.
“Bob formed a group to use the building for high-resolution microscopy and oversaw the biological aspects of the center until his retirement,” recalled Alicia Thompson, former laboratory manager for CEMMA.
His research focused on harnessing the power of high-resolution electron microscopes to analyze tissue samples for potentially harmful contaminates, especially air pollution in lung-tissue samples.
“Bob and his team were kept very busy with sample preparation and analysis,” Thompson said. “This included helping to identify scientific evidence to win the now-famous Erin Brockovich chromium contamination case in Hinkley, Calif.”
Thompson also mentioned research that analyzed tissue obtained from the mouth of a megamouth shark, discovering the photo luminescent cells that attract its prey.
Chien-Ping Ko, professor of biological sciences, worked closely with Bils, sharing a common interest in electron microscopes.
“CEMMA has played an essential role in attracting outstanding researchers to USC, and it is now a powerhouse in the field of ultra-structural analysis in Southern California,” Ko said, crediting Bils for establishing this tradition of transformative scholarship at the university.
In addition to his role in CEMMA, Bils is remembered as a dedicated teacher and mentor.
“Bob was passionate about training technicians who prepared specimens for electron microscopes,” said Bils’ wife Afrodite “Veeni” Bils. “He taught courses on that for several summers because it was a fairly new field, and technicians weren’t sufficiently trained or certified.”
Earlier in his career, Bils published Electron Microscopy: Laboratory Manual and Handbook (Western Publishing Company Inc., 1974) to further assist technicians in his burgeoning and highly technical field.
Before joining USC in 1962, Bils served in the United States Army in Japan. He then studied at the University of Illinois, earning a Ph.D. in botany and biochemistry, and held a postdoctoral fellowship at MIT. Until the last few years of his life, he enjoyed weekly golf dates, singing, traveling, fishing and scuba diving.
Albert Herrera, professor of biological sciences, reflected on Bils’ character.
“I remember Bob as a dignified and decent man, one who thought carefully before he spoke,” Herrera said. “He was enthusiastic about science and committed to the long-term development of our department and its faculty. He was a consummate professional, a class act.”
In addition to remembering Bils as an inspirational colleague and devoted mentor, Ko said he also considered him a dear friend.
“I much appreciate his generosity and friendship,” Ko said. “I still recall his beautiful singing at a joyful barbershop chorus event. Bob’s smile and gentle manner will be dearly missed.”
Bils is survived by his wife of 61 years and his daughters, Lynne Bernard, Julie Bils Maurer and Lisa Harter. He was a proud grandfather to Christy and Wesley Harter.
A memorial service with military honors was held on April 12 at Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier, Calif. A celebration of life followed at one of his favorite restaurants.