Dr Gerald Truscott Warner

It is with great sadness that the college learned this week of the death of Emeritus Fellow Dr Gerald Truscott Warner.

Gerry was a Founding Fellow of Green College in 1979, where he was subsequently Senior Bursar from 1990 to 1996. Gerry then became an Emeritus Fellow, first of Green College and, since 2008, Green Templeton College, until his death on 17 November 2020.

Gerry joined the Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine as an Electronics Engineer in 1959, where he became interested in the design and application of radioisotopes in medical research and diagnosis. At this time, he published several papers on iron-loss and food-iron absorption. Later he designed several original instruments, including a ‘Large Volume Plastic Phosphor Well Counter’ and a ‘Shadow-Shield Whole Body Counter’. The latter, which weighed over four tons, became the subject of his DPhil thesis which he registered for as a mature student at Linacre College in 1965.

Following his DPhil, Gerry continued his research and moved into administration really by chance. He had been asked by the recently appointed David Weatherall, the Nuffield Professor, to fill in as Administrator for two weeks, and he ended up doing the job for the next 20 years. With the move to the John Radcliffe Hospital, the department grew rapidly and culminated in the opening of the Institute of Molecular Medicine. Gerry founded and headed the University Data Centre at the JR and continued to work as a research physicist as well as the Departmental Administrator.

Gerry was immensely proud of his role as a Founding Fellow of Green College and his contribution to the college was extended in 1990 when he was asked to become Senior Bursar. He took up the post on a part-time basis while continuing to act as Administrator of the Nuffield Department – and running his research projects. Gerry retired from the Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine in 1993, but continued as part-time Bursar at Green College until 1996.

Our thoughts are with Gerry’s family and friends at this time.

Please let Gillian Cane know if you would like to pass messages or tributes to his family.