Irish Aires

This site includes the postings from the Irish Aires email list. This includes a listing of Irish/Celtic events in the Houston area and other information that the Irish Aires radio program posts.

Monday, December 20, 2004

12/20/04 - Paul Boyle's Eulogy

Paul Boyle, of Killybegs in Donegal, was killed in an automobile accident. Paul's eulogy at the Settegast Kopf Co funeral home chapel, given by Dr. Willy Wriggers who was Paul's Professor at the UT college of Health and Science research. ---- Dear Family, Friends, Students and Colleagues, As Paul's supervisor at the University of Texas I would like to share with you some thoughts and memories of his time in Houston. Like many international students, Paul considered the United States of America as a land of new opportunities. He visited this country first in 2002 when he spent a summer at the University of San Diego in California, and he fell so much in love with his surroundings that he aspired to continue his work in Health Informatics. A friend in San Diego, Tom Barnett from The Scripps Research Institute, introduced me to Paul. Paul brought with him a Bachelor in Engineering "With Honors" from National University of Ireland, Galway, and a Diploma in Electronic and Computer Engineering "With Distinctions" from Letterkenny IT, Ireland. After our move to the University of Texas, Paul joined us in Houston in 2003 to pursue a Master of Science degree in Health Informatics. His studies were very successful and he was nearing completion of his class-work with excellent grades. Also, in my laboratory Paul was very committed to his academic progress. He completed a significant revision of our "Situs" software package and our laboratory will dedicate the release of the next version to him. In collaboration with Dr. Rowen Chang at the Institute of Molecular Medicine, Paul studied the mechanisms of protein folding by the 'simulated disulfide scrambling' technique he developed. The proteins studied by Paul are relevant in many human diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer's, and Creutzfeld-Jakob Syndrome. Certainly, helping other humans through the intellectual mastery of the molecular basis of human disease was a very satisfying experience for Paul, and member of my laboratory will continue the projects he initiated. Now, this account of Paul's time in Houston would not be complete without mentioning his private life. Paul was a very enjoyable coworker, but even more a very popular and likeable chap who made friends quickly. His family has told me that he was very happy here in Houston, and I can attest to the fact that he always seemed to have a very good time, both at work and in private. I have just now met a large number of his friends, due to his outgoing and winning attitude he has created for himself a second home here in Houston. He was also extremely dedicated and organized and he had a clear plan for his future. Paul's friendly and happy spirit was contagious at the workplace, and many times he has brightened up our days at the office. Paul will be missed by all of us. ---- Thanks to Padraig McDonagh for supplying this eulogy

Posted by: Unknown / 11:25 PM

Comments:

gone buddy but never forgotten
colm c

# posted by  Anonymous : 1:16 AM

 

It will be five years next month since we lost Paul. Not a week goes by that I don't think about what a wonderful person the world lost. And I lost a friend.
Thom B.

# posted by  Unknown : 8:54 PM

 

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