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Roger Morgan Spanswick (June 24, 1939 – February 12, 2014) was a Professor of Biological and Environmental Engineering at Cornell University and an important figure in the history of plant membrane biology.

Roger Morgan Spanswick was born in a thatched cottage on June 24, 1939 in Barford St. John and St. Michael, Oxfordshire, England. He was the son of Lucy and Arthur Spanswick. Roger married Helen Walker in 1964. Andrew Spanswick and Robert Spanswick are their sons. Roger died at his hillside home overlooking Cayuga Lake on February 12, 2014.

In 1960 Roger graduated from the University of Birmingham with an honours degree in physics. He received a Ph.D. in Biophysics at the Department of Biophysics in the University of Edinburgh in 1964. Roger then moved to Cambridge University where he was Enid MacRobbie’s first postdoc. Enid MacRobbie reported that “Roger played a huge part in the development of the Plant Biophysics group, and his legacy and legend lasted for years. It was one of the best and most stimulating periods in my group” said Enid “and Roger player a key role in this.” Roger Spanswick joined the plant physiology group at Cornell University that included Andre Jagendorf, Rod Clayton, and Peter J. Davies. Roger became an Assistant Professor of Plant Physiology in 1967, an Association Professor in 1973, and a Full Professor in 1979. Roger Spanswick was a Guggenheim Fellow in 1980-81 and made a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and the World Innovation Foundation in 2004. Roger was a great mentor^[1] and an active member of the Friday Lunch Club, which included A. Carl Leopold, Randy Wayne and Michael Rutzke. A symposium celebrating his life was held at Cornell University on June 2, 2014.^[2]

Roger's highly cited research focused on various aspects of ion transport. He proved the presence of an electrogenic ion pump in plant cells^[3]. Subsequent biochemical work led to the identification of proton transport ATPases at the plasma membrane and vacuolar membranes. Along with Christopher Faraday, he discovered a membrane skeleton in plants.^[4]

• Spanswick, R. M., W. J. Lucas, and J. Dainty, eds. Plant Membrane Transport: Current Conceptual Issues: proceedings of the international workshop held in Toronto, Canada, July 22-27, 1979 Elsevier/North-Holland Biomedical Press, Amsterdam

• Roger Morgan Spanswick, Ithaca Journal, February 14, 2014 [1]
• Segelken, H. R. Professor Roger Spanswick dies at 74, Cornell Chronicle, February 13, 2014 [2]
• Hu, S. Professor Spanswick Remembered as 'Pioneer', Cornell Daily Sun, February 14, 2014 [3]
• Roger M.Spanswick, June 24, 1939–February 12, 2014, The Newsletter of the American Society of Plant Biololgists January/February 2015 [4]
• Roger M. Spanswick, Biophysical Society Newsletter January 2015 [5]

Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Roger Spanswick [6]

Category:1939 births Category:2014 deaths Category:Cornell University faculty