Hans G. Folkesson

Hans G. Folkesson, 48, died Monday, October 11, 2010 at University Hospitals in Cleveland, Ohio. He was born December 19, 1961 in Karlstad, Sweden, to Gosta and Signe (Larsson) Folkesson. Dr. Folkesson was a distinguished scholar and recognized as a leading authority on lung development and mechanisms of fluid transport in the lung. He received his doctorate from the University of Lund (Sweden) in 1992 and quickly rose to the rank of Associate Professor in 1996. Hans worked at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) as a post-doctoral fellow, where he published many outstanding scientific articles from 1992-1996 under Dr. Michael A Matthay. He moved to Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine in 2000 and was promoted to the rank of full Professor in 2006. Dr. Folkesson will be remembered for his myriad contributions as an academician in terms of his publications and his trainees. He published 80 original papers, reviews, and book chapters and supervised 7 doctoral and masters students in addition to two postdoctoral fellows. Dr. Folkesson also received research funding from many agencies, including the American Lung Association and the March of Dimes Foundation, to support his research. Dr. Folkesson was a member of the editorial board of the American Journal of Physiology: Lung, Cell and Molecular Physiology, and distinguished himself among reviewers by receiving the Gold Star (an award to the best reviewers) several times. He is survived by his wife, Belinda (Babalcon) Folkesson, whom he married on January 30, 1999; son, Nicholas; father, Gosta Folkesson; brother, Stefan Folkesson; sister, Annalena Fernhag and friends. Calling hours will be held 6-8 PM Friday, October 15 at Bissler & Sons Funeral Home 628 West Main Street Kent. Funeral services will be held 11:00 AM Saturday, October 16 at University Parish Newman Center with Fr. Chris Luoni officiating. In lieu of flowers, Hans suggested donations be made to American Lung Association, 6100 Rockside Woods Blvd., Suite 260, Independence, OH 44131.