Alan Fein
It is with sadness that the MBL shares the passing of former summer researcher and MBL Corporation member Alan Fein, who passed away May 1, 2023 at the age of 81. An obituary provided by his family is below.
Alan Fein of Simsbury, Connecticut, an eminent scientist and a former longtime resident of Falmouth, died at home on May 1 after a courageous battle with illness. He was 81.
He was the husband of Marlene (Leiner) Fein.
The son of Miriam and Irving Fein, he was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, and spent his career studying neurophysiology.
He earned a bachelor of science in electrical engineering from City College of New York in 1964, a master’s from Columbia University in 1966 and a doctorate and a post-doc from Johns Hopkins Medical and Engineering schools simultaneously in 1972.
Dr. Fein was originally a summer researcher in Woods Hole, beginning in 1970, then bought a house here in 1974. He and his wife had the youngest of their three daughters here.
While he worked at Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL), he published numerous papers, taught courses and gave lectures in addition to conducting his research. He took two sabbaticals abroad with his family: one to Jerusalem and the other to Geneva, Switzerland.
He and his wife moved to Simsbury in 1988.
His internationally renowned research interest was photoreceptors and the causes, perception and therapy of pain. His book, “Nociceptors and the Perception of Pain,” can be read online. He also wrote books that were published by Cambridge University Press.
Dr. Fein supported and mentored generations of medical students and scientists at the University of Connecticut and the MBL. He also was a mentor to his children and grandchildren and followed their educations passionately.
He had a black belt in judo and a purple belt in Brazilian jujitsu. He practiced the latter with his grandchildren until he was 76 years old.
In addition to his wife, he leaves behind his children, Laura Fein, Rachel Fein and Claire Fein; and five grandchildren.
In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by a brother and a sister.
A graveside ceremony was held on May 2 in East Granby, Connecticut.