David Laux

David Charles Laux, of Narragansett, R.I., passed away peacefully in the early morning of February 26, 2024. He was born January 1,1945, in Freeport, PA., where he lived with his parents Charles and Margaret (Klein) Laux, and his sister Linda. Surrounded by his extended family he had a happy and congenial childhood, still having lifelong friends from Freeport High.

He began his academic studies at Washington and Jefferson College, PA., then continued to Miami University of Ohio, Oxford, OH., The University of Arizona, Tucson, and the Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA.

While in Tucson Dave also worked at the Loft Theater, a source of many friendships and memories. Sara Pollen worked there too and was introduced by her dearest friend Dolores (Biggs) Rivas Bahti. Forever in her debt, they were married in 1970. It was truly a marriage of delight and devotion for 54 years, until his death.

After completing graduate and post-doctoral studies in 1973, they moved to South County and Narragansett with their son Benjamin Charles Laux. When, in 1982, Federal funding for school programs for gifted children was eliminated, Dave helped to organize State Advocates for Gifted Education (SAGE), holding a conference at Bryant College, RI, to increase awareness and understanding of the need for programs to continue throughout the state.

In the span of 35 years, Dave became a University of Rhode Island Professor of Microbiology and Chairman of the Dept. of Microbiology. He served concurrently from 1983-1988 as Adjunct Professor of Graduate Studies at the University of Maine, Orono. His work in emerging fields of Immunology resulted in scores of research grants, professional publications, and sabbatical research at Oxford University, England (1987;1995); University of Arizona (1980; 2003) and University of Oklahoma, Norman (2003). His research and writing, most often with Dr. Paul Cohen and colleagues, helped to define microbial colonization of the gut and its implications in health and disease. Over many thousands of lunches with Paul and their friend Dr. George Tremblay, the puzzles and finer points were discussed and wit was ever present.

A constant and eclectic reader, his love of history and the American Southwest inspired road trips to all but 3 states in the Union. Many of those adventures were with his cherished friend, John Spencer of Montezuma and Sapello, New Mexico. Dave's creativity also found form in building wooden ship models, countless projects indoors and out and, in 2022, culminated in a decades long mission to preserve and restore their garden's historic gazebo. Modest and unassuming, Dave Laux was a steadfast family man, a brilliant scholar and colleague, a generous teacher, good neighbor, and loyal friend, always bringing his welcome sense of humor.

A purposeful pursuit of knowledge motivated each facet of his kind and decent life.

Dave is survived by his wife Sara, son Ben Laux (Wakefield, R.I.), beloved sister Linda McDermott (husband Jim, deceased), nieces Beth McDermott, Amy Jones, all of Freeport , Marge Caughlan (husband Mark and son Grady )of Fort Collins, CO.,and his nephew, fellow birdwatcher, Greg McDermott of Alexandria, VA. Also, his sisters-in-law Susan Pollen and Laura Gibson (husband Dave) all of Sebring, FL., and nephew Philip Baca (Tucson, AZ.)

His family appreciates the compassion and condolences of family and friends, and accordingly, an understanding that their bereavement has been private.