Patrick Belcastro

Professor Emeritus Patrick F. Belcastro, 90, of West Lafayette, IN. died at Franciscan Health, St. Elizabeth East in Lafayette at 4:35 PM Thursday May 19, 2011. Professor Belcastro was born in San Giovanni, in Fiore, Italy June 3, 1920 the son of the late Samuel and Sarah Mosca Belastro, and came to the United States in 1927, moving to Pittsburgh, PA., and to West Lafayette in 1964. He married Hanna V. Jensen in Copenhagen, Denmark July 6, 1963, and she survives. Professor Belcastro received his elementary and high school education in Pittsburgh, PA. and received his Bachelor of Science Degree with a major in pharmacy in 1942 from Duquesne University, also located in Pittsburgh. As an undergraduate student at Duquesne he served as a laboratory assistant under the direction of Dean Hugh C. Muldon. Upon graduation from Duquesne University, he received the Merck Award for excellence in pharmacy. IN the same year he became a licensed registered pharmacist in the state of Pennsylvania. He received the Master of Science Degree in 1951 and his Doctor of Philosophy Degree from Purdue University's School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences in 1953. Following his baccalaureate education he was employed in 1942 be the Carnegie Illinois Steel Company in McKeesport, PA as an analytical chemist. He was later employed as a community pharmacist from 1945-1946 for the Walgreen Company in Pittsburgh, PA. From 1946 to 1949 he taught various pharmaceutics courses at the School of Pharmacy at Duquesne University with the rank of instructor in Pharmacy. After receiving the Doctor of Philosophy Degree at Purdue, he was appointed Assistant Professor of Pharmacy at the Ohio State University College of Pharmacy, Columbus, Ohio in 1953. In 19954, he accepted a position at Purdue University where he served as a full time member of the faculty in the Department of Pharmacy Practice and later as Professor of Pharmaceutics in the Department of Industrial and Physical Pharmacy. Upon retiring in 1990, he served as Professor Emeritus of Pharmaceutics until 2006, during which time he taught an undergraduate course in the history of pharmacy. Dr. Belcastro's publications appeared in various periodicals such as the Journal of the American Pharmaceutical Association, Bulletin of the Parenteral Drug Association, American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, Proceedings of the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy and others. His publications covered a wide variety of subject areas including studies in the effects of x-radiation on the intestinal absorbtion and thyroid uptake of I-131, the effect of x-radiation on the pharmacological action of certain drugs, the effects of ultrasonic energy on the particle size of suspended pharmaceuticals and the effect of ultrasonic waves on the rate of hydrolysis of procaine and butamine hydrochlorides. He was also a contributing author of a textbook, "Physical and Technical Pharmacy" authored by Burlage, Lee, C.O., and Rising, 1963 McGraw Hill. From 1966 to 1993 he was a contributing editor of "International Pharmaceutical Abstracts." He has served as a member of the Editorial Advisory Board of "Pharmaceutical Technology" since 1977. From 1968 to 1982 he served as a member of the National Association Boards of Pharmacy's Licensure Examination Committee. He also served as a member of the advisory panel on intravenous sets and devisce. This panel was associated with the Committee on Large Volume Parenterals of the United States Phamacopea and the Parenteral Drug Association. Professor Belcastro has been a member of several professional pharmaceutical and honorary organizations including the American Pharmacists Association, The American Chemical Society, The American Institute of the History of Pharmacy (President 1985 - 1987), The American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, The Rho Chi Soiciety, Phi Lamda Upsilon, Sigma Xi and others. He is listed in the latest issue of "Whos Who in America." During World War II, he served as a practicing pharmacist attached to a patient clearing company of the 89th infantry division based at Camp Carson, CO. From April 1944 to April 1945 he functioned as a hospital pharmacist with the 217th General Hospital in Ft. Leonard Wood, Mo., in Swindon, England and in Paris, Francis. This hospital treated as many as 2300 wounded patients, it maximum capacity, during the Battle of the Bulge in December of 1944. Surviving with his wife is a daughter, Helen M. Belcastro of Fremont , Ca.; a son, Paul A. Belcastro of Bloomington, IN.; a sister, Mary B. D'Antonio of Pittsburgh, PA, and a brother, Frank P. Belcastro of Dubuque, IA. He was preceded in death by 2 brothers, Anthony & Samuel Belcastro. Friends may call at St. Mary's Cathedral from 9:30 AM until the Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 AM Tuesday, Fr. Ambrose Ziegler officiating. Interment to follow at Grandview Cemetery. If friends desire, memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society. HAHN-GROEBER FUNERAL & CREMATION SERVICES is caring for the family. Memories and condolences may be left at www.hahngroeberfuneralhome.com.