Sandra Pizzarello, 88, passed away on October 24, 2021. Sandra was Emeritus Professor in the School of Molecular Sciences. Her groundbreaking work with meteorites redefined the key to the origins of life before it began on earth (Science 1997). Dr. Pizzarello was well known as the co-discoverer, with Dr. John Cronin, of enantiomeric excesses in amino acids extracted from meteorites, and for studies of the origins of homochirality in Earth biochemistry. She performed important work on asymmetric catalysis of biochemical reactions using non-racemic mixtures amino acids. Dr. Pizzarello's work was characterized by the most careful attention to detail and she was lauded as an international expert in the analysis of organic material from meteorites.



Dr. Pizzarello was born in Venice, Italy and studied in nearby Padua, where she obtained a Doctorate in Biological Sciences. After a brief fellowship, she stayed home to raise a family of four children. When she moved to the U.S. in 1970 with her family, she re-entered the professional sphere and joined the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department of ASU in 1977, where she recently retired as a Research Professor.



Sandra is survived by her husband, Tony, a sister, her three children and four grandchildren. Funeral service was held on November 1, 2021 at Whitney & Murphy Funeral Home, 4800 East Indian School Road, Phoenix. In lieu of flowers please consider sending a donation in honor of Sandra to One Dane at a Time . (Source: ASU Foundation)