Morris Faiman, 91, passed away on April 23.
He was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, and was the son of Beatrice and Samuel Faiman.
While growing up in Winnipeg, he braved the winters, played ice hockey and curled with his many cousins.
Morris received his Master of Science and Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota and began his career in 1965 as a professor of pharmacology and toxicology at the University of Kansas. He had the privilege of teaching thousands of students over the years and continued his tenure until 2024. In addition to teaching, he also conducted research at the Life Span Institute, where he was a recognized leader in the fields of pharmaceutical chemistry and pharmacology. His research programs focused on the development of drugs to treat alcohol abuse and drug addiction, and he holds several patents related to his research.
During his professional career, Morris served on many committees, including the board of directors of DCCCA (a nonprofit organization that provides social and community services to improve the wellbeing of the local community), the National Institute of Health and the Centers for Disease Control, and was a visiting professor at Duke and the University of North Carolina. He was the recipient of several awards and honors and received numerous grants for his research from the National Institute of Health.
Beyond his academic and professional accomplishments, Morris’ greatest joys in life were spending time with his wife of 62 years, Lynne; his children, Jeff and Janis; and his grandchildren, Leah, Carson and Abby. He was a master magician and loved to perform his illusions for his family at countless holiday gatherings. He had a love for hamburgers, peach cobbler, his book clubs and magic club, ROMEO club (Retired Old Men Eating Out), the Kansas City Chiefs and, of course, his beloved Kansas Jayhawks. He loved visiting Napa Valley, where he enjoyed sitting in the sunshine in his backyard, watching his peach tree and roses grow, chatting with his neighbors and sipping very small glasses of wine.
Survivors include his wife, Lynne (Overland Park, Kansas); son, Jeff Faiman, and daughter-in-law, Christine (Vienna, Virginia); daughter, Janis Condon, and son-in-law, Brian Condon (Napa, California); and grandchildren, Carson Faiman and Leah and Abby Condon.
A memorial service was held on May 1 at Congregation Beth Torah. Arrangements are with Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home of Lawrence, Kansas
May his memory be for a blessing.
“This experiment is over. It’s time to go home.” – Morris Faiman, April 21, 2024
If you care to donate in Morris’ memory, please consider a contribution to DCCCA at dccca.org.
