Memories and Tributes
Dick was a wonderful colleague, a truly great scientist, an inspirational teacher, and unquestionably a gifted and caring mentor of students. He enriched Alma College in so many ways, but for me, his passion for science and for inspiring students stands high on the list. He encouraged good students to become excellent scientists; a hallmark of Biology at Alma. As a scientist, he excelled both in the field and in the laboratory; few I have ever known could span those two areas with facility, but Dick managed this easily.
I have warm, funny, a few scary and many characteristic memories of the long time we worked together.
When I interviewed at Alma, he bummed my last cigarette before Ron Kapp took me to the Bog. Kapp encouraged me to cross a log over a point, and of course, I fell off into the pond and had to give my afternoon seminar with wet feet and suffering from nicotine deprivation.
He had a pair of red-white-blue shoes in his office. I hope you never saw him wearing them.
I remember visiting him many times in the hospital when he was in traction after breaking his femur after slipping on ice. Ouch, we should all be careful when things are slippery.
Also, in slow motion, I can still see the chainsaw touch his leg when clearing trees at the bog. Off we went to the hospital.
I have so many and fond memories of Dick and his students making wonderful presentations at scientific meetings each year. They did such exceptional work, each a credit to Dick’s insight and mentoring, and energy. And he did this year after year after year.
He had a remarkable number of publications and presentations, and was internationally known for his work with wood boring beetles and their associated fungi.
He was a wonderful champion for Mark Bunce, recognizing that Mark was one of the brightest and best around and who excelled best under Dick’s umbrella. This typifies Dick’s ability to recognize gifted people and to encourage them as best as possible.
I loved his Hostas and the passion for planting them at the college. He found them, bought them, planted them and nurtured them. He curated a large diversity, and when I see Hostas in my garden, I think of him.
I could go on and on, but no question I am a better person for knowing Dick.. And for that, I am most grateful.
I have warm, funny, a few scary and many characteristic memories of the long time we worked together.
When I interviewed at Alma, he bummed my last cigarette before Ron Kapp took me to the Bog. Kapp encouraged me to cross a log over a point, and of course, I fell off into the pond and had to give my afternoon seminar with wet feet and suffering from nicotine deprivation.
He had a pair of red-white-blue shoes in his office. I hope you never saw him wearing them.
I remember visiting him many times in the hospital when he was in traction after breaking his femur after slipping on ice. Ouch, we should all be careful when things are slippery.
Also, in slow motion, I can still see the chainsaw touch his leg when clearing trees at the bog. Off we went to the hospital.
I have so many and fond memories of Dick and his students making wonderful presentations at scientific meetings each year. They did such exceptional work, each a credit to Dick’s insight and mentoring, and energy. And he did this year after year after year.
He had a remarkable number of publications and presentations, and was internationally known for his work with wood boring beetles and their associated fungi.
He was a wonderful champion for Mark Bunce, recognizing that Mark was one of the brightest and best around and who excelled best under Dick’s umbrella. This typifies Dick’s ability to recognize gifted people and to encourage them as best as possible.
I loved his Hostas and the passion for planting them at the college. He found them, bought them, planted them and nurtured them. He curated a large diversity, and when I see Hostas in my garden, I think of him.
I could go on and on, but no question I am a better person for knowing Dick.. And for that, I am most grateful.