1Honoring the life of Scott Mackler, a professor at the
2University of Pennsylvania, who died on November 13, 2013,
3after battling Lou Gehrig's disease for 15 years.

4WHEREAS, Scott Mackler, age 55, a longtime professor at the
5University of Pennsylvania, died on November 13, 2013, after
6battling Lou Gehrig's disease, medically known as amyotrophic
7lateral sclerosis, for 15 years; and

8WHEREAS, Mr. Mackler was a pioneering addiction researcher
9and physician, who earned all four of his academic degrees at
10the University of Pennsylvania; and

11WHEREAS, Lou Gehrig's disease left Mr. Mackler confined to a
12wheelchair, unable to speak or move any of his muscles; and

13WHEREAS, Mr. Mackler could only communicate by shifting his
14eyes slightly to the left or right, indicating letter-by-letter
15what he was trying to spell out; and

1WHEREAS, Born in 1958, Mr. Mackler grew up in Bloomfield, New
2Jersey; and

3WHEREAS, Despite his condition, Mr. Mackler kept up an active
4research life, continuing to direct his ground floor lab at the
5John Morgan Building until his death; and

6WHEREAS, Mr. Mackler often said continuing to be an active
7member of the scientific community was second only to being a
8good father and husband; and

9WHEREAS, Mr. Mackler had a paper published in the journal
10"Neuroscience," which focused on the role that NAC1, a protein
11that Mackler discovered in 1996, plays in the development of
12Parkinson's disease; and

13WHEREAS, Mr. Mackler's story was featured on CBS News' "60
14Minutes" in 2008; and

15WHEREAS, Scott Mackler is survived by his wife, Lynn; two
16sons, Alexander and Noah; daughter-in-law, Laura; and brother
17and sister, Harvey and Randi; therefore be it

18RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives honor the life of
19Scott Mackler, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania,
20who died on November 13, 2013, after battling Lou Gehrig's
21disease for 15 years.