Utah Nobel winner should be celebrated as hero

Mario Capecchi — a name every Utah resident should recognize.

Capecchi is the only Utahn ever to be honored with the Nobel Prize for contributions to knowledge. And because Capecchi works at the University of Utah, the university becomes one of only seven public universities in America to produce a Nobel Prize laureate.

Those accomplishments deserve celebration in every Utah home, school, civic club and business group.

We teach children through our behavior to respect and honor sports figures, movie stars, performers and politicians. But compared to Capecchi, those individuals are not even flickers in the fire of human existence. Americans are addicted to titillation, to the momentary rush of fleeting fame. But Capecchi changes the course of history.

If you and your children knew Capecchi, you would find him a better role model than most short-term heroes you admire. The 70-year-old scientist is bright, witty and friendly. He exercises every day, running 5 to 10 miles. He likes western music, loves animals and has a passion for self-discipline. He always wears clogs, and when the Nobel Prize Committee said he would have to wear patent-leather shoes at ceremonial events in Stockholm, he found a pair of patent-leather clogs on the Internet (thanks to a friend).

Last week, admirers and colleagues gathered to celebrate Capecchi's achievements. He insisted the guest list include outstanding science students from Utah high schools. Those students will never forget the evening ... or Capecchi's infectious smile ... or those patent-leather clogs.

He believes in tomorrow. He believes in using our intelligence to understand our world. He believes knowledge and wisdom can solve the problems around us. In other words, he shares the confidence, vision and passion so characteristic of young people. He draws strength from the young ... as should we all.

Capecchi's research already has changed the world. He revolutionized medical science. He provides a new vision of how we might treat diseases that plague human beings — cancer, heart disease, diabetes, epilepsy, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and many more. These diseases are not caused by outside organisms — bacteria or viruses. They are attacks of the human body upon itself. Somehow, things go wrong with the body's well-tuned mechanism.