School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences

September 6, 1926–March 17, 2021

We thank the Liston family and SAFS faculty and students for their contributions to this memoriam. Some content was adapted from The Seattle Times obituary published on May 16, 2021.

John Liston, an esteemed microbiologist and retired member of the UW Fisheries faculty, passed away on March 17, 2021. John was renowned for his work on foodborne microbes and marine microbiology. He mentored numerous graduate students and played a key role in the professional development of several women scientists, including Dr. Rita Colwell (PhD 1961) and SAFS Professor Emerita Frieda Taub (PhD 1959, Zoology, Rutgers).

John was born and raised in Edinburgh, Scotland. He attended the University of Edinburgh, where he met his wife, Doris. He earned his PhD in Microbiology at the University of Aberdeen Scotland in 1955 and was offered a faculty position at UW Fisheries in 1957. He accepted the offer and moved his family to Bothell, Washington.

When John joined the Fisheries faculty, a food science division already existed. Under his direction, that division developed into the Institute of Food Science and Technology (IFST) in 1969, and John led the unit until retiring in 1989. Initially, research at IFST was focused on seafood microbiology issues, including better canning methods to prevent botulism and improved shelf life for fresh fish.

IFST’s research scope expanded greatly under John’s leadership. A new direction focused on detecting mutagen formation in processed foods, while another investigated different feed ingredients and formulations, and feeding strategies for coldwater fish aquaculture.

During John’s tenure as director, the IFST faculty included four women. SAFS Emeritus Professor Frieda Taub noted, “Besides supervising female doctoral students, John was instrumental in recruiting Barbara Rasco, Faye Dong, Barbee Tucker, and me to Fisheries faculty positions. This was unusual at UW.”

During Frieda’s time at Fisheries, John became her mentor. She said he “fought hard for my promotions, eventually to full professor with tenure in 1971.” Notably, many of his female graduate students and staff went on to successful careers in science, including serving on college faculty at a time when that was rare.

John also supported basic science in oceanography. He supervised graduate student John Baross (PhD 1973; currently UW Oceanography faculty) in his study of deep-sea microbes. John said, “His breadth of knowledge was impressive, and he supported my research ideas despite them not being funded through his projects. I always looked forward to lunch walks along Lake Union, where we would discuss science, literature, philosophy, or whatever came up at the moment.”

Perhaps less well known were John’s efforts to address “brain drain” of foreign students who did not return to their home countries, where they were needed to help improve food security and safety. Frieda said, “He developed programs that brought students here for short time periods, and faculty went overseas to teach short courses.”

John’s research led him to pursue microbiology studies in places such as Iran, Brazil, Chile, Peru, Latin America, and many European nations. He was a prolific writer, having published or co-authored more than 150 scientific papers on fisheries microbiology and technology.

Rita Colwell is one of John’s more renowned former graduate students. After earning her PhD (1961), focused on microbiology under his direction, she served on UW Fisheries’ research faculty before eventually becoming the first woman director of the National Science Foundation (1998–2004). Rita reflected: “John was not your typical professor. He trusted me to set up his microbiology lab.” When John arrived at UW, he actively explored new technologies and new ideas: “As a result,” said Rita, “we were the first to apply computer analysis to marine bacteria.” She added, “He encouraged his students to read classic literature and poetry. He also had a beautiful singing voice and often performed at parties.

Another student of John’s—Marleen Wekell (PhD 1975)—said, “John treated all students equally well regardless of gender or ethnicity. He was an effective mentor for all of us.” Marleen added, “He always insisted his students defend their positions with data and logic and often took an opposing view to see how we would fare under scathing criticism. This experience served us well.”

Faye Dong, who retired in 2012 from her position as head of the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, University of Illinois, Urbana–Champaign, was on the IFST faculty during John’s directorship. She noted: “He was a wonderful mentor and model for young faculty. He was highly respected in the fields of food microbiology, marine microbiology, and food technology.”

Faye further confirmed John’s exceptional support of women in science: “He provided professional support and opportunities for women faculty members—including Barbara Rasco and me—equivalent to what he provided for male faculty members.” Faye added that John never asked anyone to do anything that he was not willing to do himself—be it to teach a class, mentor a student, or serve on a committee.

Barbara Rasco (currently dean of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Wyoming) said, “John focused on ensuring that scientists were well rounded—experts in their field, but with a solid grasp of how the research fit into a multidisciplinary context before this was in vogue.” Barbara commented on his sense of humor: “He was serious without taking anything too seriously.”

John was a family man and enjoyed hiking, camping, fishing, and skiing with his three children and four grandchildren. His daughter, Fiona, spoke about his dry sense of humor: “He threatened to grade his graduate students’ papers by tossing them down the stairs and giving the highest grades to those that fell the farthest!”

Despite his wicked humor, Fiona said, “Dad had a very positive outlook on life and was kind in all things. He gave to every charity that solicited from him.” She spoke to John’s championship of women’s rights: “I was surprised to read that this was even a “thing” because he never thought to treat different genders or cultures differently. People were just people to him, and we grew up with this, so it just felt natural.”

John is survived by his daughters, Rosalind Liston-Riggs and Fiona Liston, and son, John D. Liston, and four grandchildren.

The Liston family requests that charitable donations in remembrance of John be made to Habitat for Humanity.

June 29, 1927–March 17, 2021

Thanks to Dick’s family and many students, colleagues, and friends for their contributions to this memoriam. Some content was adapted from an obituary published by Dignity Memorial https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/snohomish-wa/richard-whitney-10114346.

On 17 March 2021, Richard (Dick) Whitney, SAFS professor emeritus, passed away at the age of 93.

Dick was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, and after a stint in the Navy towards the end of World War II, he completed a BA (1949) and an MS (1951) in Zoology at the University of Utah. Dick obtained his PhD (Population of Walleye (Stizostedion viteum) in Clear Lake, Iowa) at Iowa State  University in 1955.

Following his PhD studies, Dick worked at UCLA (1954–1957), the Chesapeake Biological Laboratories (1961–1967), and the then Bureau of Commercial Fisheries in La Jolla, California, where he was the acting assistant administrator (1967). The Washington State Coop Unit (now the Washington Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit) was formed in 1967 as a fisheries-only unit within the  University of Washington College of Fisheries. At the time, the Washington Coop Unit was one of 23 across the country (there are now 40). Dick was appointed as the first unit leader and as associate professor without tenure (WOT), and he established the unit and its mission. He was promoted to professor in 1973, and retired from federal service in 1983/84, remaining as a professor WOT until 1993. Dick noted that he retired from the USGS after 21 years because he was asked to move to a new duty station in Washington, DC, and he chose to stay in the Pacific Northwest.

The main objectives of the original Washington Coop Unit were to train fishery biologists and have graduate students and unit personnel conduct research and extension activities. Dick’s first graduate students were Aven Andersen (PhD 1971), Duane Braaten (PhD 1970), and Brian Alee (PhD 1974). Early projects through the Coop included studies of the behavioral interactions between juvenile coho salmon and steelhead, angler participation and satisfaction in the trout sport fishery, and quantification of water temperature and migration of American shad. Dick was an early supporter of multidisciplinary studies, including work on Findley Lake in 1970 as part of the International Biological Program.

Dick Whitney and Assistant Unit Leader Richard Wydoski published Inland Fishes of Washington in 1979 (2^nd edition 2003), a reference describing the distribution, life history, simplified pictorial keys, and photographs of 74 native and introduced species in Washington. SAFS Professor Tom Quinn noted that he still makes use of the volume.

In 1974, Dick was appointed to serve as a technical advisor to the Honorable Judge George H. Boldt in the Indian Treaty Fishing Rights Decision (aka US v. State of Washington or the Boldt Decision). In a 2008 article in Council, Dick noted that he had a member of the Colville Tribes as a student, and they nominated him. When Judge Boldt called him, Boldt said “Well the thing I like about you is that you’re working with all the parties to this dispute… I want somebody who can work with those people, talk to them, get them to reach agreements on how to manage the fish.” Dick emphasized the importance of the Boldt Decision because while previous decisions had concluded that the Tribes were entitled to a share of fish, the amount was not specified. In contrast, Judge Boldt decided that the split was 50:50 (because the parties could not reach agreement themselves). Following the decision, Dick was requested to provide advice on fishery problems and was appointed chair of the Fisheries Advisory Board to advise the court “on technical aspects of the case and make recommendations on questions of management and regulation of the resource.” Learn more about the decision and its background in this video of a conversation between Dick and Billy Frank Junior (Nisqually Tribe – environmental leader and treaty rights activist) in 2013. Dick gave his last seminar at SAFS in May 2014 (“My fisheries management experience with Judge George H. Boldt in his case, United States v. The State of Washington”) in which he discussed his involvement in the case and his subsequent work resolving fishing disputes.

In his role as a faculty member in SAFS, Dick taught a class on fisheries management. He was also a member of numerous very influential committees, supporting fisheries and fisheries management, including a stint as a member of the inaugural Scientific and Statistical Committee of the Pacific Fishery Management Council (Ed: SAFS has continued its participation on this committee and that of North Pacific Fishery Management Council), as commissioner of the Salmon and Steelhead Advisory Committee (1981–1984), and as chair of the Scientific Review Group for the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) (1989–1994). Dick also chaired the mid-Columbia Coordinating Committee, which was established when the resource agencies and Tribes sued the Columbia River public utility districts because of the effects of their dams on fish survival.

Dick’s former graduate students spoke about the positive influence he had on their education and careers. “Dr. Whitney was a supportive advisor. He encouraged me and all the members of the unit in our academic studies, research, and personal lives,” recalls Russ Nelson (MS 1977).

“I learned how to identify all of the local species and how to collect basic field data. But, it was the personal time spent with Dr. Whitney that was my most valuable lesson,” said Fred Olney (MS 1975). Fred added, “when I was first called to testify in front of Judge Boldt, I walked into that hearing room, and there was Dick Whitney sitting near Judge Boldt off to the side in the jury box. Our eyes met and he gave me his usual big and reassuring smile and my confidence came back immediately.“

Chuck Peven (MS 1990) recalled two of Dick’s sayings: “There is always an answer.” “Dick would pull that one out when I came across some obstacle that was halting my progress. It was his kind and subtle way of encouragement,” Chuck said. The second was, “Where is the romance factor?” (Dick’s response to push Chuck to find “more” in the data he collected).

“He was an inspiration to me based on his work with racial and social justice of the black community in society, and he inspired me to work on Indian fishing rights against the establishment as a matter of social justice,” said Brian Allee.

Phil Mundy (PhD 1979) recalls Dick’s expertise with complex problems during his time on Independent Scientific Group (ISG) for Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) and the Power Council: “Once again, Dick’s equanimity came shining through, as the ISG considered scientific proposals for funding that addressed keeping salmon populations alive within the hydroelectric system. As was the case in US v. Washington, solving problems was made more challenging by the highly charged political environment, the large amounts of money at stake, and the number of powerful institutions involved. Dick’s presence helped us through many tough spots.“

Jeff Laufle (MS 1982) noted that Dick was a wonderful mentor and friend, and his advice was helpful and well-considered. Dick and his wife entertained Jeff and other Coop people at their home near Seattle, then later at the log home they built near Leavenworth, WA. “Better and more gracious hospitality than theirs is hard to find,” recalled Jeff.

Dick was extensively acknowledged by his peers, the profession, and the broader community in many ways, but four stand out: a 1979 letter of thanks from Senators Magnusson, Jackson, and Packwood and Representatives Pritchard, Bonker, Dicks, Swift, and Lowry, recognizing the quality of his testimony on the status of anadromous fish in the Pacific Northwest; a signed photograph from George Boldt, who expressed his “deep appreciation for outstanding service to the court;” a blanket made by Northwest Indian Tribes presented during the Tribal Celebration of the 40^th Anniversary of the Boldt Decision in 2014; and a shark species (the Humpback smooth-hound Mustelus whitneyi), named after him by a former student.

Dick was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Lou, and is survived by his children, Jennifer, Bill, Bob, and Gale, seven grandchildren, and ten great grandchildren.

16 April 1949– December 24, 2020

Thanks to Glenn’s many students, colleagues, and friends for their contributions to this memoriam. Some content was adapted from an article published in the February 2021 issue of Marine Mammal Science

On 24 December 2020, Glenn VanBlaricom, SAFS professor emeritus, passed away at the age of 71 following a long battle with thyroid cancer.

Glenn was born in Shelton, Washington, and obtained his BS degree (Oceanography and Zoology) from the University of Washington in 1972, and his PhD from UC San Diego in 1978 (thesis title: Disturbance, predation, and resource allocation in a high-energy sublittoral sand bottom ecosystem: Experimental analyses of critical structuring processes for the infaunal community). He joined federal service in 1977 as a wildlife biologist for the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). Glenn spent 16 years with the USFWS, working on the ecosystem-scale ecology of sea otters along the Big Sur coast of California and in Prince William Sound, Alaska. During his tenure with the USFWS, Glenn served as an associate adjunct professor in the Institute for Marine Sciences at UC Santa Cruz, where he taught courses in coastal marine ecology.

Glenn was informed about the newly created position of assistant unit leader-wildlife in the Washington Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit (WA Coop) by a friend and USFWS colleague, manatee biologist Tom O’Shea. In a 2015 interview, Glenn said, “Because I was a native of Washington and a UW graduate, a faculty position relating to marine sciences at UW had always been my dream job, and family issues centered in western Washington provided further incentive.” Glenn was appointed as an associate professor “without tenure” in the (then) School Fisheries. He retired from the US Geological Survey and UW in 2017.

Glenn taught a very popular class on marine mammalogy at UW. This class attracted students from all over campus, including Art, History, English Literature, and Drama, in addition to the marine sciences. Many today can attribute their interest in marine mammal science to their time in his class. Glenn also conducted a monthly series of seminars in Olympia that brought UW scientists involved in research on natural ecosystems to the state’s capitol for the benefit of state agency scientists and managers who were interested in research developments at UW.

One of the goals of the WA Coop is mentorship of graduate students, and during his 24 years as a UW faculty member, Glenn consistently maintained one of the largest labs. He was major professor for 17 PhD students and 26 MS students. Glenn’s former graduate students now work in natural resource research; in management and conservation; as university faculty; in local, state, and federal governmental agencies; in tribal resource management departments; at the United Nations headquarters in New York; and in private consulting firms. One of his PhD students, Kristin Laidre, is now a SAFS faculty member.

Glenn’s interests covered multiple research themes and ecosystems. He published over 80 papers in peer-reviewed journals on topics as diverse as community ecology and conservation biology of nearshore marine environments, population and community ecology of marine mammals and shellfish, and the ecological consequences of offshore oil development. Glenn was also the author of three books on sea otters: The Community Ecology of Sea Otters (1988), Sea Otters (2001), and Sea Otter Conservation (2015).

Glenn’s service to conservation and management was extensive. For example, he was a member (and chair) of the Endangered Species Act Black Abalone Recovery Team, and a member of the Western Gray Whale Advisory Panel, a program of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature involved in mitigating the impacts of expanding Russian development of offshore petroleum resources in the summer feeding grounds of the western gray whale population in the Sea of Okhotsk.

Many of Glenn’s students and colleagues highlighted his impact on their careers. Sue Moore (UW Center for Ecosystem Sentinels) noted that she first met Glenn when he was a graduate student at UC San Diego and she a marine research assistant, sorting benthic invertebrates in Paul Dayton’s lab. Sue says she was “loaned” to Glenn to help sort the many benthic core samples he’d taken both in and adjacent to bat ray pits in the shallow waters near Scripps Pier. What she remembers of those days was the fun and camaraderie that Glenn brought to his work, both in the lab and during his many dives to “collect bugs.” Glenn’s love of research is echoed in  a comment by Amanda Bradford (MS 2003, PhD 2011) who went with Glenn to San Nicolas Island off California to assist with his long-term research project on black abalone. “Although I had already been in his lab for a few years, I saw this side of him that I had not seen before. The phrase ‘kid in a candy store’ comes to mind, except he was an established professor crawling around the intertidal zone. His intimate knowledge of the ecosystem brought it into sharp focus, and his enthusiasm was infectious,” she said.

Tony Orr (PhD 2011) commented: “Glenn was my PhD advisor and my friend. I was always impressed by his knowledge about various aquatic ecosystems, how articulate he was while giving lectures in the classroom or presentations at conferences, and how prolific he was providing data and information to the scientific and academic communities. He was ahead of his time concerning diversity and inclusion issues. Glenn was an inspiration, and I will be eternally grateful for the opportunities he provided to me. He may be gone but his memory and impacts live on.”

Laura Hoberecht (PhD 2006) highlighted Glenn’s professionalism: “While at SAFS, I worked with Glenn on beluga population dynamics and sea lion diets, and as my career developed, our paths crossed while investigating the effects of geoduck farming on the environment. In my experience, Glenn never advocated for any particular policies for the systems he studied, but instead prioritized communicating the results of his research to resource agencies to inform and guide their management decisions. With this approach, he made a difference in the protection and conservation of marine resources, while never compromising his scientific integrity.”

Glenn is also remembered for his generosity towards his students on a personal level. Alex Zerbini (PhD, 2006) commented, “Glenn made all the efforts to make sure international students felt at home. I’ll never forget the moment I left the plane the day I arrived in Seattle, just before starting at SAFS. Glenn was at the airport waiting for me with a whale sign in his hand, and my name written on it. He made me feel welcome from day one. During my first months here, he and Kris (Glenn’s wife) constantly checked how I felt adjusting to a new country. He was a kind man with a big heart.”

Glenn was recognized through multiple awards, including an Excellence in Scientific Communication Award from the Society of Mammalogy, a Natural Resource Response Award from the US Department of the Interior, and the Dr. Betty S. Davis Conservation Award from the Friends of the Sea Otter.

Glenn is survived by his wife, Kristina, two daughters, Christy and Betsy, and five grandchildren.