Doctors & Scientists
Dr. Ralph Heinicke
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"With deep regret, I announce the passing of Dr. Ralph Heinicke, one of the great scientific minds of our time. Ralph was at home with his lovely wife, Anne, last Thursday, November 26, 2009, when he fell and sustained serious head trauma. Although medical help arrived immediately, Dr. Heinicke could not be revived.
Ralph was a brilliant scientist, and many have called him the “Father of Noni.” It was his published research on noni fruit that originally caught our interest and helped inspire the worldwide distribution of this remarkably beneficial plant called noni. His original scientific studies laid the groundwork for much of what we now know about this amazing fruit.
Besides being an amazing scientist, Ralph will also be remembered for his genuine warmth, his good nature, and his dear friendship. He has literally blessed the lives of millions of people around the world, and he will be sadly missed. Our love and prayers go out to his sweet wife, his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Although he is considered by many to be the 'Father of Noni', in many ways he was a father to us all.
We will genuinely miss him."
Dr. Heinicke’s father lost his sight in his early twenties and suffered from a rare joint disease that left him bed-ridden and eventually led to his death at 34. Dr. Heinicke admits that his father’s early death was a great motivator in his future work as a scientist.
After graduating from Cornell University in 1936 with a special interest in plant physiology, Dr. Heinicke joined the army and continued his education in electrical engineering at the University of Kentucky, Lexington. It was here that he met his wife, Ann, whom he married after an eighteen-month courtship.
Shortly after getting married, Ralph was shipped out on assignment and stationed in China, Burma, and India. He took every opportunity he could to interact with people and their cultures. (It was in part this interest in culture that eventually led Ralph to explore the traditional uses of noni.)
Later Ralph went on to receive his Ph.D. in biochemistry from the University of Minnesota. He lived in Hawaii from 1950 to 1986 doing research for the Dole Pineapple Company, the Pineapple Research Institute, and the University of Hawaii. During this time he was published in several scientific journals for his pioneering research on enzymes found in plants and fruits. This same research led Ralph to search out other food sources that could be used as supplements and that offered real, substantial benefits.
While in Hawaii, Ralph became fascinated with all the stories and traditions surrounding the noni plant. “I feel strongly that as scientists we dismiss the cultural aspect because we assume it is not relevant. Heritage actually contains a lot of very specific information that we must simply learn to interpret. For example, a simple story may hide a recipe for picking and handling fruit during the appropriate season.”
After several meaningful discoveries, Ralph became convinced of noni’s potential to improve health on many different levels. Shortly after, he dedicated his life to the exploration and development of noni.
He has since been dedicated to continuing noni research as a key member of TNI’s advisory board. Dr. Heinicke has spent most of his life studying noni and the nature of its healthful properties. He still makes speaking appearances at key scientific conventions and TNI events.
Dr. Heinicke Endorses Only TAHITIAN NONI® Products
Tahitian Noni International was the first company to bring the benefits of noni to the world and continues as the leader in noni research and expertise. Dr. Ralph Heinicke works directly with our lab to continue the research he began over 40 years ago. In Dr. Heinicke’s words,
“Tahitian Noni International's exclusive processing methods ensure that the healthful properties of noni are preserved to the end product. I believe TAHITIAN NONI® Juice and TAHITIAN NONI® products to be the best available; they are the only noni products I recommend and endorse.”
