Pamela Early Pickens Kubiak

Pamela Early Pickens Kubiak passed away on Thanksgiving Day, November 27, 2025 at the age of 79. Pam was a light in the life of the many people she touched throughout her life with her kindness, keen wit, intelligence, and humor. At the time of her death, she lived in Del Mar, California with her husband of forty years, Clifford Kubiak, who survives her. She is also survived by several cousins and close friends.

Pam was born on May 18, 1946, in Indianola, Mississippi, the daughter of George Wilson Pickens and Josephine (Homie) Holmes Early. The family moved to Washington, D. C. while Pam was still a young child so that her father could attend George Washington University on the GI Bill. Pam had many fond memories of growing up in Washington and visiting the museums, monuments, and landmark attractions. Following her father’s graduation from GWU with a degree in pharmacy, the family moved back to Indianola and opened a Rexall pharmacy there. Indianola was home to many of Pam’s aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends, and she thrived in their loving company.

Pam was a graduate of Indianola High School, where she was an excellent student and played on the tennis team. Pam explored many options in seeking a college education. She attended at various times the University of Mississippi, Randolph Macon College, and Stevens College before settling on Emory University, where she majored in English, and then earned a Master’s degree in Library Science. She remained in Atlanta for many years after graduation from Emory and has kept up with the many friends she made there through the years.

Pam’s first job was as science reference librarian at Georgia Institute of Technology. She then became the first chemistry librarian in the Department of Chemistry at Emory. Pam befriended many of the faculty and students at Emory during her years there, and she stayed in touch with many of them for years afterward. While working at Emory, one of the professors introduced Pam to her future husband, Clifford Kubiak, who at the time was a professor of chemistry at Purdue University. Pam and Cliff were married in York, Maine in August,1986 and they moved to Zionsville, Indiana, where Cliff had a home. Pam found a position at Dow Elanco research laboratories as chemistry librarian and enjoyed a successful career there for twelve years, as usual, making many good friends along the way. Pam particularly enjoyed weekends on their sailboat on Lake Monroe with their beloved Dalmation, Tito.

In 1998, she and Cliff moved to Del Mar, California, as Cliff joined the faculty at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) and Pam joined Agouron Pharmaceuticals, a biotech start-up company in San Diego, as chemistry librarian and information technology specialist. Agouron was very successful and the company was purchased by Warner-Lambert, and subsequently, Pfizer. Pam rose to the senior management team of Pfizer – La Jolla, ultimately becoming Director of Information Technology. She was a strong advocate and effective mentor to her younger associates at Pfizer, particularly women, as an inspiring role model for success in business and in life. She took a similar interest in her husband Cliff’s graduate students, frequently advising them how to navigate difficult challenges in the lab and life, and always finding the best path forward. She retired from Pfizer in 2006. Although she loved living in Del Mar, walking on the beach, and enjoying the beautiful environment, she continued to cherish her family and friends of her youth in Indianola. Pam was a voracious reader for her entire life. She followed current events very closely, reading the Washington Post and New York Times every day, and providing her unique brand of analysis and commentary, which she often shared with her close friends and neighbors.

There will be two celebrations of life, one in Indianola and the other in Del Mar, on dates to be announced at a later time. Donations in memory of Pam can be made to Habitat for Humanity, Doctors without Borders, or St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, Indianola, MS.