Daniel Banes, Ph.D.

On Wednesday, April 24, 2013, Daniel Banes, Ph.D. of Chevy Chase. Beloved husband of the recently deceased, Helen Banes; loving mother of Susan (Larry) Harris, Ruby (Dawa) Sherpa and Sally (Noel Carroll) Banes; dear grandfather of Mimi (Steven) Kirstein, Amy B. Harris (Jason Reilly), Joseph Bell, Panama (fiancee, Elizabeth Durney) Bartholomy; and great grandfather of Zachary, Kylie and Richard Kirstein, Ellis Reilly and Jake Bell. Dr. Banes was born in Chicago, Ill. He graduated from the University of Chicago, Phi Beta Kappa also obtaining a masters in biochemistry. His Ph.D. in biochemistry is from Georgetown University. He enlisted in the Army-Air Corp shortly after the start of World War II, serving as a meteorologist at a major air base. After accepting a position at the Food and Drug Administration, he rose to be chief scientist under four presidents. He was instrumental in stopping the approval of Thalidomide as an anti-nausea and sleeping medication, preventing the drug from affecting fetuses in the U.S. After retiring from FDA, he became an editor of the US Pharmacopeia. Dr. Banes was a consultant through the World Health Organization to Latin American countries and Israel. In later years he taught Shakespeare, Jewish history, and the humanities in Washington, D.C., and Palm Springs. He was a chemistry professor at the American University. He was a member of Cosmos Club. He loved helping the family with homework and especially with Shakespeare assignments. He will be missed and always loved. Services and interment are private. Shiva was at the home of Mimi and Steven Kirstein on Sunday. Memorial contributions may be made to ShakespeareTheatre.org or to the charity of your choice. Arrangements entrusted to Torchinsky Hebrew Funeral Home.