UpDate - Vol. 14, No. 13, Page 8
December 1, 1994
Prof. Emeritus James C. Kakavas recognized for decades of service


     James C. Kakavas, professor emeritus at the University of
Delaware, was recognized for more than six decades of contributions to
the University at a special reception in his honor  Nov. 21 in Clayton
Hall. More than 150 of his friends, colleagues and former students
attended.
     The evening included reminiscences and anecdotes from Harry G.
Haskell Jr., whose father founded the University of Delaware Research
Foundation and supported Kakavas' early research; Peter G. Anderson of
Medlab; and Donald Crossan, former dean of the University's College of
Agricultural Sciences.
     University President David P. Roselle presented a citation
acknowledging Kakavas' contributions.
     Among Kakavas' achievements at the University, he
        * founded the Medical Technology Program, which became a model
          for other four-year programs at colleges throughout the
          United States;
        * was instrumental in establishing and developing curricula
          for the colleges of Marine Studies and Nursing;
        * was the first researcher supported by the University of
          Delaware Research Foundation in 1937 (His work, led to the
          development and patenting of a treatment for bovine
          mastisis, a serious cattle disease at the time); and
        * chaired the then-Department of Biological Sciences and
          served as acting dean of the College of Arts and Science and
          dean of the School of Graduate Studies.
     Born in Thessaly, Greece, Kakavas immigrated to the United States
in 1910. He came to the University of Delaware in 1929 as an
instructor in physiology and bacteriology. Except for two years spent
at Yale to earn his Ph. D. in microbiology, he spent his entire 35-
year career at Delaware.
     Even though he retired in 1964, he has continued to be involved
in many activities at the University. In 1993, he and his wife of 64
years, Theresa, established the James C. and Theresa Kakavas
Scholarship Fund to support students in the Medical Technology
Program.