Today's Featured Biography

 
David Fitzpatrick

David attended Tennessee Tech and received a B.S. in Biology in 1961, and a M.S. a year later. He served two years in the Army at Fort Detrick, Maryland, where he met and married Bonnie. They returned to Nashville where David attended Vanderbilt graduate school, receiving a Ph.D. in Pharmacology in 1969.

In 1972, David received a faculty appointment in the Department of Pharmacology at the University of South Florida College of Medicine in Tampa, Florida, where he taught Pharmacology and researched the health benefits of red wines and various fruits and vegetables. His research helped explain the “French Paradox”, according to which the French have a low incidence of cardiovascular disease, despite a diet rich in fat and smoking a lot. David’s research group found that there are beneficial compounds in red wines (which the French drink a lot of) and many fruits (e.g. apples), nuts (peanuts, walnuts) and vegetables (beans, broccoli, peppers). These compounds dilate arteries, permitting better blood flow through the blood vessels. David has patents on some of the compounds, which may eventually be used in medicine. (He suggests, however, that it’s much better to prevent cardiovascular disease in the first place by eating lots of fruits and vegetables, and maybe have a glass of wine per day if you like.)

David has two daughters, Kellie and Julie. Kellie married a Scotsman and they live in Edinburgh, Scotland with their daughter, Rachel. Julie lives in Tampa with her daughter, Madison and son, Tripp. Sadly, David’s wife, Bonnie, passed away in 2002 following an automobile accident.

David has been retired since 2003 and still lives in the Tampa area. He appreciates his years at DuPont High School and all the wonderful friends he made there.

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