Remembering Don Voet

Don Voet was the kind of person whose light and positive energy filled every room. His zest for life, endless curiosity, and adventurous spirit left an indelible mark on everyone who knew him. Don lived fully and without hesitation, embracing every opportunity that life offered.

An Adventurous Spirit

Don's wife, Judy Voet, captured his energy beautifully: “For me, he just exploded my world! We traveled all over. We did things I never would have done. I became a scuba diver so I would have something to do with him…[we went] backpacking. I never would have done all of these things. He just lived life to its fullest, and I loved that about him.”

Don also loved children, often playing with youthful energy and enthusiasm. His life was filled with globetrotting, intellectual pursuits, and near-miss adventures like backpacking, skiing, and scuba diving that inspired all who accompanied him. Judy shared, “When we had his celebration of life…nobody coordinated anything but…everybody spoke about his adventurous spirit and how he had either inspired them or led them on near-death experiences. He was an adventurer."                                 

A Legacy of Academic and Scientific Achievement

Don’s academic career was as vibrant as his personal life. He earned his Ph.D. in Chemistry, specializing in X-ray crystallography, and spent his career at the University of Pennsylvania, where his passion for biochemistry and molecular biology thrived. Alongside Judy, he co-authored the famous textbook Biochemistry, as well as the Fundamentals of Biochemistry textbook with a second co-author, cornerstones in the education of many budding scientists. Don’s intellectual curiosity never waned, and he spent his life reading, researching, and staying at the forefront of scientific advancements. Even in his later years, he remained deeply engaged with the biochemistry community.

Don's Battle with PKD
In the 1980s, Don and his brother Martin were diagnosed with Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD), after learning about their uncle’s diagnosis and mother’s death from a related complication of PKD. Even facing dialysis, Don’s optimism and sense of adventure never faltered. Judy shared a remarkable story of their trip to Antarctica while Don was on dialysis, where 20 boxes of dialysis supplies were shipped to the cruise ship so Don could fulfill his dream.

“He went through a lot in his life, and it never fazed him. Even when he was on dialysis, it didn’t stop us from traveling…the last trip Don made was to his brother Martin’s 80th birthday in California. At 83, dialysis boxes were shipped there…it was very important for him to go to his brother’s 80th birthday party.”

Continuing Don's Legacy: Support for PKD Research

After Don’s passing on April 11, 2023, his legacy includes his dedication to helping others, especially in the fight against PKD. Don and Judy's philanthropic investment in the PKD research efforts of Santa Barbara Nutrients was not just financial; it was deeply personal. With family members, including their son, facing PKD, they knew firsthand the importance of innovative research.

Don & Judy learned about Santa Barbara Nutrients and the Venn Foundation through his brother Martin who, as a retired patent lawyer, is a founding member of Santa Barbara Nutrients along with numerous others affected by PKD and world-renowned PKD researchers. The first time Martin met with SBN’s president, Dr. Thomas Weimbs, in person to discuss the founding of the company, Martin mentioned that his brother and sister-in-law were biochemists. Thomas suddenly realized the connection and pulled the “Voet & Voet” Biochemistry textbook off his shelf which he had used to study biochemistry in college in Germany. Thomas reflected: “It felt like a magical circle suddenly closed. The biochemistry knowledge gained from Don’s and Judy’s famous textbook helped me to obtain my PhD in biochemistry, become a professor, research PKD for over 20 years, and eventually launch a company dedicated to treating this disease with the help of another member of the Voet family. What are the odds of that?!”

Don’s involvement with the Venn Foundation and his angel investment in Santa Barbara Nutrients will continue to support life-changing research for generations to come. Judy and their son continue Don’s legacy by generously supporting venture philanthropy to help speed up the clinical research  at Santa Barbara Nutrients to slow or halt disease progression in individuals affected by PKD with the goal to prevent the need for dialysis or kidney transplantation.

Don’s brother Martin emphasized that Santa Barbara Nutrients stands out in that they are targeting research for PKD and what can be done “today” and not just “20 years from now.” “KetoCitra and ketogenic metabolic therapy are a reality today and have shown more promise in managing PKD than anything else I have seen”, Martin said.

The Optimism that Defined Don

Through it all, Don’s unshakable optimism was a hallmark of his character. Judy recalled, “He was inordinately optimistic and had not one worry bone in his body... He never worried about anything…worry doesn’t do any good whatsoever. He always moved forward.”

Don’s ability to face life’s challenges with a smile and move forward with boundless hope inspired all who knew him. As Judy put it, “He was the most optimistic person I’ve ever met.”

Don Voet’s life was a testament to living boldly, giving generously, and facing each day with enthusiasm. His legacy will live on not only in the scientific contributions he made but in the hearts of his family, friends, and everyone who was fortunate enough to know him.

How to Support PKD Research

Santa Barbara Nutrients is a benefit corporation founded by kidney researchers from the University of California Santa Barbara together with industry professionals affected by PKD, and funded by angel investors with a personal interest in PKD. If you would like to support PKD research at Santa Barbara Nutrients , you can participate in venture philanthropy and donate through our PRI Fund. This fund, administered by the Venn Foundation, accepts charitable, tax-deductible donations that are fully dedicated to SBN’s efforts on research and education.

Whether it's $5 or $5,000 or more, your contributions add up and bring in the funding needed for clinical research. SBN has already started one clinical trial on PKD and hopes to continue many more, thanks to the generosity of people like Don and Judy Voet.

For information on how to contribute to our research efforts, please refer to the Support PKD Research page. There are opportunities to donate in honor or memory of someone living with PKD, and your support can make a lasting impact on research and treatments.

For questions about Santa Barbara Nutrients, please reach out to SBN’s founder and president Dr. Thomas Weimbs or SBN’s General Counsel Martin Voet at info@sbnutrients.com.

If you would like to learn more about setting up your own donor-advised fund account, please reach out to Jeff Ochs, CEO at Venn Foundation, at jeff.ochs@vennfoundation.org.

Special thanks to Judy Voet and Martin Voet for sharing Don’s memory!