Gretchen Johnson, who worked as a technician in Torok-Storb's lab for nearly 40 years, also praised her mentorship and guidance.
“She was the best mentor anyone could have,” Johnson said. “She had high expectations for teamwork and quality science from her lab and was always there to help you achieve that, word by word, and slide by slide. She had these same passions and expectations for the summer high school interns.”
Even years after their internships, Torok-Storb continues to inspire students.
Jacob Greene, now a medical student at the University of California, San Francisco, was a 2016 SHIP intern and 2017 Lead Intern and Clinical Scholar. He vividly remembers learning about blood cell development from “Dr. Bev.”
“That summer went on to be the singularly most impactful summer of my life,” he said. “Dr. Bev and SHIP allowed me to dream it possible for a kid with cystic fibrosis to pursue a career in medicine … I find the stem cell an appropriate analogy for Dr. Bev’s legacy: Her impact on the development of my life, and that of countless other students, is truly awe inspiring.”
Usman Moazzam, a 2017 SHIP and 2018 Pathway alum, described how Torok-Storb's guidance extended well past his internship. When Moazzam made the decision to switch majors — from pre-med to computer science — and schools — from the University of Washington to Case Western Reserve University — after his sophomore year, Torok-Storb was there.
“She gave amazing advice that changed my life,” Moazzam said. "Her unyielding support during such a difficult time for me was a blessing and made me even more passionate about the new path I was following.”
Natalie Smith, a 2016 SHIP intern and 2017 Lead Intern and Clinical Scholar, said that Torok-Storb remains a daily inspiration. Smith, who currently works as a clinical research coordinator at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, plans to apply to medical school.
“I am beyond lucky to have gotten to know Dr. Bev and follow in her footsteps as a woman in medicine and science. She has not only had a lasting influence on my career in science but also my life as a survivor of acute myeloid leukemia,” she said.
Dr. Jeanne Chowning, who worked closely with Torok-Storb and counted herself as one of “Dr. Bev’s mentees,” said the researcher had a soft spot not just for her students, but also for teachers.
“She was a natural teacher herself and she recognized it was a great thing to support teachers,” Chowning said. “She was very accomplished professionally, but there was also so much heart in her work. She modelled how those things could coexist.”
Chowning also emphasized how generous Torok-Storb was to her young mentees.
“Her door was always open to students, and she wouldn’t mind them just walking in and chatting,” she said. “She wanted them to feel like they could ask her anything anytime. She was legendary as ‘Dr. Bev.’”
Chowning said that Torok-Storb's renown extended beyond Fred Hutch and into the Seattle community.
“I heard a story that someone was in an Uber with her once and addressed her as Dr. Bev and the driver had even heard of her,” she said. “He said, ‘You’re Dr. Bev? You’re famous!’”
Torok-Storb, Chowning said, was constantly creating opportunities for people who might not otherwise have them.
“She was just so important to so many — not just to students, but to people across Fred Hutch,” she said. “She’s part of the legacy of our work here. Her scientific achievements were formidable, but her mentorship was unparalleled. She altered the course of my life completely. My career would not be what it is without her and I’m just one of many. I will miss her terribly. Her passing leaves a great void.”