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September 25, 1997

Barbara Deskins

Barbara Deskins, a retired associate professor in Pitt's Department of Clinical Dietetics and Nutrition, died Sept. 9, 1997, of liver cancer. She was 67 years old.

During her tenure at Pitt, Deskins developed undergraduate courses in food science, social and cultural determinants of food behavior and nutrition in the life cycle.

On the graduate and professional levels, Deskins taught advanced courses in food technology and worked on continuing education activities for dietetic practitioners.

In her spare time, Deskins also wrote on food and nutrition topics for Cooking Light Magazine, The Pittsburgh Press and The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. In 1995, with co-author Jean Anderson, Deskins published "The Nutrition Bible: The Comprehensive No-Nonsense Guide to Foods, Nutrients, Additives, Preservatives, Pollutants and Everything Else We Eat and Drink." A native of Olean, N.Y., Deskins earned a B.S. in foods and nutrition from Cornell University, a master's of science in experimental foods from the University of Wisconsin and a Ph.D. in medical geography/nutrition from Michigan State University.

Prior to moving to Pittsburgh in 1971, when her husband, Wilbur, became chair of Pitt's mathematics department, Deskins taught in the nutrition and home economics departments of Michigan State University.

In 1974, Deskins took a job with the Allegheny County Health Department. She remained with the health department until 1989, working in its maternal and infant care program, supplemental food program for women, infants and children, and nutrition services program.

Deskins began her career at the University as a part-time instructor in the late 1970s and became a full-time faculty member in 1989. As a scholar, her research focused on the use of computers in the delivery of nutritional care, food science, maternal and child health. She published articles in the Journal of the American Dietetics Association, Journal of Nutrition Education, Journal of Dietetic Software, Bytingle and Journal of Maternal Child Nursing.

Deskins is survived by her husband; two daughters, Lucinda E. Brickley of State College and Samantha E. Deskins of Austin, Tex., and one grandson.

A memorial service for Deskins will be held at Heinz Chapel on Nov. 7 at 2 p.m.

Filed under: Feature,Volume 30 Issue 3

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