Dr. Michael Joseph Matunis

Dr. Michael J. Matunis passed away peacefully at home on January 22, 2026, at the age of 61, after a three-and-a-half-year battle with cholangiocarcinoma.

Michael was born on October 3, 1964, in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, the seventh of thirteen children of Dr. Joseph J. Matunis and Suzanne (Hoban) Matunis. Growing up on the family farm indelibly shaped his lifelong love of nature, learning, family, and hard work.

Mike graduated in 1982 from West Perry High School in Loysville, Pennsylvania. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in biochemistry from The Pennsylvania State University and went on to receive his Ph.D. in molecular and cell biology from Northwestern University with Dr. Gideon Dreyfuss. During his postdoctoral fellowship at Rockefeller University in Günter Blobel’s laboratory, Mike discovered the small ubiquitin-related modifier SUMO, launching his independent research career.

In 1998, Mike established his own laboratory at Johns Hopkins University, where he served as a professor of biochemistry and molecular biology in the Bloomberg School of Public Health, with a joint appointment in cell biology in the School of Medicine. His research explored the molecular mechanisms regulating SUMO modification of proteins and the consequences of SUMOylation for protein function, cell behavior, and human disease. Mike enjoyed collaborating with people at Hopkins and across the globe. He was especially proud of the more than thirty research mentees who trained in the Matunis Lab, and deeply valued the close ties they maintained over the years.

Mike was an active member of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, the American Society for Cell Biology, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. In recognition of his scientific contributions, he was elected a Fellow of the AAAS in 2015 and of the American Society for Cell Biology in 2023. A devoted mentor and teacher, he led his department’s doctoral training program for over a decade, served as interim chair for two years, and supported many junior faculty members across the university.

Above all, Mike loved his family. He was married to Erika (Mortenson) Matunis for 36 years. They met in the Dreyfuss lab and were married on August 5, 1989, in Tacoma, Washington. Together they raised two children, Milo (31) and Max (29), and joyfully welcomed Max’s wife, Ginger, into their family on August 5, 2025. In 1998, Mike and Erika moved to Baltimore to begin their parallel research careers—Mike at Johns Hopkins and Erika at the Carnegie Institution.

Mike remained deeply connected to his family and the family farm, cherishing time spent there during holidays, birthdays, “farmcations,” and spontaneous gatherings. He enjoyed tending the land and preserving the place that always felt like home.

Growing up on the farm nurtured Mike’s love of the outdoors and sparked his curiosity about the natural world. He had fond memories of camping with the Boy Scouts and credited winning West Perry’s Bausch and Lomb Science Award with inspiring his path toward a career in science. Backpacking, hiking, blueberry picking and fossil hunting remained lifelong passions. A talented photographer, Mike built a remarkable collection of wildlife photographs over the years.

Mike loved to read and had a deep appreciation for history. A passionate cook and baker, he shared his enthusiasm for good food with family and friends. He loved canning the tomatoes he grew on the farm, and making homemade jams and jellies to share with family and friends. An accomplished marathon runner, he completed numerous races and proudly displayed his medals. He also enjoyed cycling, cross-country skiing, and staying active, always bounding up the stairs to his eighth-floor laboratory at work. He was a devoted homeowner and enthusiastic do-it-yourselfer, never missing an opportunity to learn new skills, or acquire new tools. He was known throughout Tuscany-Canterbury for his service on the neighborhood board and for his legendary snow-shoveling abilities.

Mike was a man of integrity, kindness, and quiet strength — a loving and devoted husband, father, son, brother, and uncle; a dedicated mentor; and a loyal friend. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

Mike is survived by his mother, Suzanne (Hoban) Matunis; his twelve siblings: Frank (Ruth), Mary Jo (Bob Houston), Suzanne (David Pustinger), Joe (Jackie Chang), Ellen, Kate (Tom Wolfe), Megan (Jim Schaper), John (Trisha), Becky (Andy Schriber), David (Jennifer), Marybeth (Mark Ventura), and Emily (Kym); his many nieces and nephews: Matthew, Stephen, Becky (Dan), Robert, Abigail, Ryan, Joey, Allison, Claire, Maggie, Myles, Nathan (Pam), Jonathan, Tausey, Annaka, Katie, Emma, Alek, Aidan, Adam, Max, Olivia, Jillian, Noah, Madeline, Logan, Jason, Rory and Elizabeth — and Roslyn and Robert. He was preceded in death by his father, Dr. Joseph J. Matunis. Mike is also survived by his extended Mortenson family, including his beloved in-laws, Don and Kate, their sons Aron and Eric, and Robin, Robert, Rilee, Rider, Rowan and Rosabella. He is also survived by his aunts, uncles and cousins in the Metzger and Mortenson families; Aunt Mary Catherine de Nero and her family, by Uncle Frank Hoban and family, and the Gegwich, Gluckow and Clancy families.

A memorial service to celebrate Mike’s life will be held at 5PM on Friday, February 20, at Sommer Hall (E2014) at the Bloomberg School of Public Health, at Johns Hopkins University, with a reception to follow. Remote attendance is available at https://jh.zoom.us/meeting/register/BJzy2yCkQkawvX_jOZDpqw. 

Mike is being cared for by Recompose, a green funeral home dedicated to environmentally responsible end-of-life care. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the PHD scholastic award in memory of Michael J. Matunis at https://secure.jhu.edu/form/bsph.