VESTAVIA HILLS, Ala., and HANCOCK – Charles Patrick Dagg, photographer, research scientist and retired professor died Sunday, June 24, 2008, at his home in Vestavia Hills, Ala. He was born June 24, 1923, in Omaha, Neb. A longtime resident of Vestavia Hills, Ala., and Hancock, he is survived by his wife of 58 years, Martha; his son, Michael of Detroit, Mich.; granddaughters, Merrill and Kendra; and brother, William, of San Rafael, Calif. Charles attended high school in Washington, D.C., served in the Medical Corps during World War II, received his bachelor’s degree from George Washington University and his Ph.D. from UCLA. From 1956 to 1967, he was a senior staff scientist at Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, where he researched the causes of birth defects. In 1967, he moved to Birmingham, Ala., to set up the department of biology at the University of Alabama, Birmingham, UAB. He served as the first chairman of the department and was a senior professor and student advisor. He retired from teaching in 1988. In addition to his teaching and research careers, he was an avid photographer. He developed a keen interest in black and white photography, hand tinting and specialized films such as infrared. He taught courses in black and white photography for the Special Studies Program at UAB, even after he retired from university teaching. A memorial will be held 5-7 p.m. Saturday, July 5, at Ridout’s Valley Chapel, 1800 Oxmoor Road, Homewood, Ala. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Doctors Without Borders at www.doctorswithoutborders.org.
CHARLES PATRICK DAGG
