Dear Colleagues and Friends,

It is with great sadness that we write to let you know that Dr. Sumner Burstein passed away Wednesday, December 14, 2022.

Sumner was a prolific scientist, and contributed many seminal discoveries in the field of cannabinoids including the metabolites of THC, the acid analogs of THC as anti-inflammatory, non-psychoactive compounds, demonstration of prostaglandins as key mediators of cannabinoid action, and of endogenous molecules related to Anandamide, N-arachidonoyl-glycine and other fatty acid-neurotransmitter conjugates.

It was with Sumner in mind that the first Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research ICRS special issue on cannabinoids and inflammation was submitted in 2019.  Sumner had been ringing the proverbial bell on these types of interactions for decades and I (HB) wanted to be able to gather data on the subject so that he could see the latest advances.  He even reviewed one of the papers for the special issue.  The CCR interface was challenging, so I sent him the PDF of the paper via email and we corresponded about it with details on his review and general comments about the topic.  At the end of the last email he stated that for future reference, “I am now over 90 and this stuff takes me longer than I like, so maybe get someone else next time.”  For the record, his review came back first.  Sumner was such a great mentor and scientist and it can be said without a doubt that our careers would not have been the same without his influence.  

He was an original Member of the ICRS, a friend, mentor, family man, scientist, and all around mensch.  He will be dearly missed.

- Heather Bradshaw, Ph.D., Rob Zipkin, Ph.D. and Jason Schechter, Ph.D.

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  Services will be held on Tuesday, December 20th at 10:00 am at Levine Chapels, 470 Harvard St., Brookline.  Burial will follow at Tifereth Israel of Winthrop Cemetery, 232 Fuller St., Everett, MA.

  Shiva will be Wednesday, December 21st from 2 – 3:30 at the Newbridge Family Interfaith Chapel, 5000 Great Meadow Rd, Dedham, MA.

  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Sumner’s memory to Hebrew Senior Life.

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Click here for more information about Sumner