Harvey A. Bender, professor of biological sciences and director of the Human Genetics Program at the University of Notre Dame, died Saturday (Oct. 1). He was 78 years old.
A member of the Notre Dame faculty since 1960, Bender studied at Case Western Reserve University, majoring in chemistry and English before doing graduate studies in developmental genetics at Northwestern University where he received both his master’s and doctoral degrees.
Bender, whose award-winning research and teaching concerned human developmental genetics and the epidemiology of human genetic disease, was a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and a founding fellow of the American College of Medical Genetics. He also served as the founding director of the Regional Genetics Center at Memorial Hospital in South Bend.
Bender was preceded in death by his wife, Eileen, and is survived by his three children, Leslie C. (Chris Wunder) Bender of Baltimore, Md.; Samuel D. (Ellen) Bender of New York, N.Y.; and Philip M. (Linda Rotunno) Bender of Washington, D.C.; companion, Rosalind Tucker of Granger; and eight grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday (Oct. 6) at Temple Beth-El, 305 W. Madison St., South Bend.
The family has asked that, in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made: In Memory of Harvey A. Bender; University of Notre Dame; 1100 Grace Hall; Notre Dame, IN 46556. Condolences may be sent to the Benders; 1100 North Lake Shore Drive; Apartment 28B, Chicago, IL 60611-5212.