Schardein, James L. (1934 - 2017) | University of Illinois Archives

James L. Schardein (1934-2017) was a specialist in pharmaceutical drug safety, teratology, and toxicology. Schardein was born in Mt. Ayr, Iowa, the son of Glenn and Margaret Schardein. He married Mary L. Miller on November 26, 1954. Schardein received a masters degree in Zoology from the University of Iowa in 1958, writing a thesis entitled "Light and Electron Microscope Studies of the Tonofibrillae of Human Skin." After this he began work as a research scientist for the International Research and Development Corporation in Ann Arbour, Michigan, working on research related to toxicology and human birth defects. Schardein lived in Chelsea, Michigan for most of his life, working as a research scientist. During this time Schardein published five books and nearly 120 research articles on drug safety and teratology. He eventually became a Senior Vice President for Will Research Laboratories in Ashland, Ohio and a Fellow of the American Thoracic Society. Schardein earned a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Society for Birth Defects Research and Prevention.

In his spare time, Schardein was also an avid cornet player and Sousa scholar, amassing a collection of Sousa memorabillia that would result in his final publication, The Legendary Sousa Band: 40 Years from Plainfield to Atlantic City, 1892-1931. These materials included clarinetist Charles Boschek's uniform from his time playing in the Sousa Band. Schardein passed away on April 21, 2017 in Chelsea, MI.

The Legendary Sousa Band: 40 Years from Plainfield to Atlantic City, 1892-1931 (ISBN:978-1-4327-4105-1)

James L. Schardein Obituary (2017): https://obits.mlive.com/us/obituaries/annarbor/name/james-schardein-obituary?id=14826847&_gl=1*zjjg24*_gcl_au*OTU2MDk4MTI1LjE3NjY0MjQ1NDk.