Albert Jacques Wahba

Services will be graveside at Beth Israel Cemetery on Wednesday, September 21 at 10:00 a.m.

Albert was born on February 27, 1928 to the late Jacques and Camille Wahba in Alexandria, Egypt. Albert came to the United States on his own to study at the University of California at Berkeley at the age of 16 and eventually became a world renown scientist. After graduating from the University of California at Berkeley with a degree in biochemistry, he studied at the University of Texas where he earned his M.A. degree. He continued his studies and earned his PhD at Tufts University in Boston.

Dr. Wahba began his professional career as a Fellow of the Damon Runyon Fund for Cancer Research at The National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, MD. Later, he was the Charlton Research Fellow at the New York University Medical School. He advanced through the academic ranks from Instructor to Associate Professor of Biochemistry at NYU. After serving as Visiting Scientist at The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, he served as Professor of Biochemistry and Director of The Institute of Molecular Biology at the University of Sherbrooke (Canada) School of Medicine. He held a Medical Research Council Associateship during his tenure there.

Albert and his family moved to Jackson, Mississippi in 1977 when he was appointed Chairman of Biochemistry at the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC). He remained there until retiring in 2003. While at UMMC, he received the F.A.P Barnard Distinguished Professorship, the highest award the University bestows on a faculty member. During his career, Dr. Wahba was known as one of the leading cancer research scientists in the world. He published numerous research papers particularly in the fields of nucleic acids and protein synthesis.

Dr. Wahba is survived by his wife Judith, sons Jeffrey (Jodi) and Michael, and daughter Danielle. He is also survived by his brothers Isaac Wahba (Gail) and Victor Wahba (Maya). His two sisters Esther and Lucy are deceased.

Albert will be remembered for his smile and engaging personality. He was fluent in French, Arabic and English as well as conversant in several other languages. He enjoyed engaging with whomever he met. He was a mentor to the doctors and researchers that studied and worked with him throughout his life and career.

He will be forever missed by his children and three grandchildren, Jennifer, Andrew, and Allison.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Beth Israel Congregation, 5315 Old Canton Road, Jackson, MS 39211.