Rolf Hans Joho
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Rolf Hans Joho

  • January 26, 2012
  • Dallas, Texas
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Memories & Candles

“Rolf, you were extremely great researcher and a very enthousiasm person in a nice talk at all levels. I am really sad to hear your sudden passing...Read More » ”
1 of 26 | Posted by: Lori Nguyen - Euless, TX

“Dr. Tratter -- Pat and I were sorry to read about your husband's death. He was clearly a talented and respected man and will be missed by those...Read More » ”
2 of 26 | Posted by: Pat and Stan Altschuler - Dallas, TX

“My condolences to Angelica, Rolf's family, friends and colleagues. His open mind, sense of humor and engaging conversations on a wide range of topics...Read More » ”
3 of 26 | Posted by: Ed Hurlock

“Dearest Angelica, I cannot even begin to express how sorry I am for the loss of your dear Rolf. I can only hope that you will find some small...Read More » ”
4 of 26 | Posted by: Cindy McTee - Bloomfield Hills, MI

“I am so sad to hear that Rolf has left us. I still remember the first time I met him a decade ago, when I came for my job interview. I immediately...Read More » ”
5 of 26 | Posted by: Gang Yu - Dallas, TX

“I will always remember the first time I met Rolf: he speaks gently and smiles nicely; I will always remember the days I worked with him: the advices...Read More » ”
6 of 26 | Posted by: Weiran & Fangmin - Dallas, TX

“John and I send our deepest sympathies. Rolf was kind, gentle, caring, generous and sensitive. He seemed to truly enjoy people and had an endearing...Read More » ”
7 of 26 | Posted by: Cynthia

“I can always count on Rolf to have a scintillating conversation on jusy about any topic. His views are just, insightful, and always educational to me...Read More » ”
8 of 26 | Posted by: Orson W Moe - Dallas, TX

“I am really sad to hear this. Last a few years, we had great lunch meetings for his Japanese conversation but, we mostly talked about sciences,...Read More » ”
9 of 26 | Posted by: Hirotoshi Hoshiyama - Kobe, Japan

“Rolf, you were a great person and inspiration for us all. It is sad that you had to leave us already. I will visit you in the beautiful Engadin...Read More » ”
10 of 26 | Posted by: Daniel Fuster - Switzerland

“My dear Angelika, There is little consolation and inadequate words to express empathy for your loss. Please know that you are in our thoughts and...Read More » ”
11 of 26 | Posted by: R. Elena Blum - Berlin

“Rolf was a special gift to the world, and I wonder whether he knew this. His loss deeply saddens me. ”
12 of 26 | Posted by: Susan Roos - Arlington, TX

“My sincere condolescence to the family of Dr. Joho! He was the instructor of the Ion Channels class during the Fall 2009 semester. He was great...Read More » ”
13 of 26 | Posted by: Darya Fakhretdinova - Dallas, TX

“Dear Angelika, So sorry we cannot be at Restland on Tuesday night, but we will be there in spirit. A donation is being sent to the Education and...Read More » ”
14 of 26 | Posted by: Peter and Julie Schaar - Dallas, TX

“Angelika, Zum Tod von Rolf moechten wir Dir und Deinen Angehoerigen unser aufrichtiges und herzliches Beileid aussprechen. In stiller Anteilnahme...Read More » ”
15 of 26 | Posted by: Hans &Josy Stettler - Grapevine, TX

“Dear Angelica: Greg and I are deeply sorry for the loss of our dear friend Rolf. He will be missed very much. In these sad moments we are...Read More » ”
16 of 26 | Posted by: Maria L. Garcia - Edison, NJ

“I am very sorry to hear this sad news. Rolf is a tremendous and yet very modest individual. He will be missed dearly by all of us. ”
17 of 26 | Posted by: Yi Liu - Dallas, TX - colleague

“Rolf was a pleasure in all aspects of our professional family at UT Southwestern. His contributions were immense at all levels and delivered with...Read More » ”
18 of 26 | Posted by: Jim Stull

“liebe Angelica, unsere besten Wuensche begleiten Dich in die schweren Zeit! Die Tage, die wir in den letzten Jahren gemeinsam verbringen durften,...Read More » ”
19 of 26 | Posted by: Claudia Sailer & Hans-Guenther Knaus

“My thoughts are with your family during this difficult time. You will be missed by all who knew you. ”
20 of 26 | Posted by: DEBORAH EVALDS - ROCKWALL, TX

“Rolf was an inspiration in health and illness. He will be missed. ”
21 of 26 | Posted by: Kris Kamm - Dallas, TX

“Angelica dear. I am so sad to hear about Rolf's passing and am thinking of you with so much fondness and memories of our time in Dallas. Love ...Read More » ”
22 of 26 | Posted by: Robyn Travis - Los Angeles, CA

“Angelica: I am so sorry to hear the sad news of Rolf's death. He was an extraordinary man and I will miss him. My thoughts are with you. Gabe...Read More » ”
23 of 26 | Posted by: Gabriel Travis - Los Angeles, CA

“Dear Angelica, I'm so sorry for your loss of Rolf and the countless ways he'll be missed. Your friend, Berit ”
24 of 26 | Posted by: Berit Johnson - Dallas, TX

“My thoughts and prayers are with Rolf and his family. I really enjoyed working with Rolf at UT Southwestern. Just a great friend and colleage. ”
25 of 26 | Posted by: Richard Curry - Coppell, TX

“Dearest Angelica, Jason and I wish to express our deepest condolences. We shared many wonderful memories, good wine, and great dinners with you...Read More » ”
26 of 26 | Posted by: Kay Goodman & Jason Diamond - TX


ROLF HANS JOHO, 1949-2012

Rolf Hans Joho, much loved husband, brother, friend, and colleague, passed away January 26, 2012 at his home in Dallas, Texas. He had bravely fought a two-year struggle with a rare and debilitating cancer, leiomyosarcoma. He was born in 1949 in Schaffhausen, Switzerland and resided in Texas for the last 25 years. He graduated from University of Zurich in 1972 with an M.S. in molecular biology and received his Ph.D. in molecular virology in 1977 with his award-winning thesis work on the genome of Rous sarcoma virus. After a postdoctoral fellowship for molecular immunology at Stanford University, he held tenured faculty positions at the University of Zurich, Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, and finally at the University of Texas Southwest Medical Center in Dallas, where he served as a professor in the Department of Neuroscience and was awarded the Earl A. Forsythe Distinguished Professorship in Biomedical Sciences.

Rolf was an internationally recognized and published researcher who made fundamental contributions in the field of molecular neuroscience. He was instrumental in pioneering the molecular cloning and structure-function analyses of ion channels. He developed imaginative ways of studying voltage-gated potassium channel functions in the central nervous system and their role in physiology and behavior. Working with mouse genetic technology of gene knockout and cell-specific protein expression, he was able to produce novel and conclusive data on molecular mechanisms underlying the electrical activities of neurons. He served on numerous academic committees, scientific advisory and review panels, including the National Institute of Health and the National Science Foundation. He also contributed significantly to the teaching mission of neuroscience as a lecturer for graduate students and course director for medical neuroscience. As a colleague he was much appreciated for his generosity in sharing his reagents and constructs with other researchers to help further their own success. Beyond the sciences, he loved philosophy, motorcycles, mountain hiking, playing soccer, scuba diving, and flying single and twin engine airplanes. He also had a great feel for modern as well as ancient languages and over the years studied Latin, Sanskrit, and Japanese. Together with his wife, he always kept an open house & garden for friends and colleagues and anybody who would engage in a hearty political discussion.

Rolf is survived by his wife and companion of 29 years, Angelica M.D. Tratter of Zurich and Dallas, his brother Kurt Joho with mate Ursel Froidevaux, his nephew Thomas Joho with wife Sandra, his niece Gabi Joho Buehrer with husband Ernst, and niece Andrea Schaufelberger-Joho with husband Stefan, his mother-in-law Poldi Tratter with life mate John Zaech, and his two beloved cats Mici and Ahni. He has chosen organ donation at University of Texas Southwest Medical Center with subsequent cremation and scattering of his ashes in the Engadin mountains in Switzerland, where he used to enjoy extended hikes with his wife and friends.

Visitors will be welcomed Tuesday, January 31, 6:00 to 8:00 pm at Restland Funeral Home in Dallas. In lieu of flowers, we would appreciate memorial donations to be sent to the Education and Training Program of the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health, www.fnih.org, or the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation, www.damonrunyon.org. These foundations support early career scientists and scientific education, two of Rolf's passions. To view and sign the guest book, visit www.restlandfuneralhome.com.