NIH Alumnus Dingell Dies

Dr. James Victor Dingell of Vienna, Va., passed away on Dec. 21, 2019, at the age of 88 at home with his children by his side. 

He received his doctorate from Georgetown University and worked in research at NIH in the 1950s and early 1960s, then left to teach pharmacology at Vanderbilt University. 

Dingell returned to NIH in 1975 and spent time at various institutes including the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, where he managed an extramural research program for the Division of Heart and Vascular Diseases. He also held posts at the National Cancer Institute and the National Institute on Drug Abuse, from which he retired in the late 1990s.

Among his positions at NIDA were director of the Division of Preclinical Research and director of the Division of Basic Research.

Dingell was also a member of the PHS Commissioned Corps, from which he retired as a captain.

Dingell was preceded in death by his wife of 34 years, Gigi, and is survived by 2 sons, a daughter, a sister, 4 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild. 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Capuchin Soup Kitchen, 1820 Mt. Elliott St., Detroit, MI 48207 or the Little Sisters of the Poor, 4200 Harewood Rd., NE, Washington, DC 20017-1554.