Obituary of Dr. Thomas Norse Salzmann

Dr. Thomas Norse Salzmann, 60, died Friday, October 30, 2009 at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.Born in Kingston, NY, he resided in North Plainfield, NJ before moving to Warren, NJ in 1995.Dr. Salzmann was a graduate of Kingston High School. He graduated cum laude from Colgate University in 1971 with a BA in organic chemistry. He received his Ph.D. in synthetic organic chemistry from the University of Wisconsin in 1975, and later that year joined Merck Research Laboratories in Rahway as a Senior Research Chemist. His initial research efforts were in the area of carbapenem antibiotics, which ultimately led to the discovery of Primaxin. In 1984, he received the company's prestigious Director's Award, the highest award bestowed upon a Merck employee. Dr. Salzmann held positions of increasing responsibility within Merck Research Laboratories culminating with his appointment to the position of Executive Vice President, Worldwide Preclinical Development in 2002.Dr. Salzmann retired as Executive Vice President in 2004 after 30 years of employment with Merck. Following his retirement, Dr. Salzmann focused on consulting for the biotech industry. He was on the scientific advisory boards of Sirtris Pharmaceuticals (co-chair), Satori Pharmaceuticals, Rishi Pharmaceuticals, and Concert Pharmaceuticals. He was a member of the Board of Directors of Satori (chair) and was a Board of Directors observer for Sirtris (now part of GlaxoSmithKline) and Concert.He split his time between his homes in Warren and in Seabrook Island, SC where he loved to play golf.Surviving are his wife, Susan Potter Salzmann; a son, Matt Salzmann of South Orange; two daughters, Katrina Muti of Bridgewater and Gretel Salzmann of Edison; two brothers, John and William Salzmann, both of VA; a sister, Sarah Gill of Kingston, NY and four grandchildren, Madison Rose, Jane, Owen and Finn.A memorial service for family and friends will be held on Tuesday, November 10 at 3:30 p.m. at Merck Research Laboratories on Scott Avenue in Rahway.In lieu of flowers, donations are welcomed to the Arthritis Foundation (www.arthritis.org), PO Box 96280, Washington, DC 20077-7491 and the GBS/CIDP Foundation (www.gbs-cidp.org), The Holly Building, 104 1/2 Forrest Ave., Narberth, PA 19072.