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Conrad Joseph BAHRE

Conrad BAHRE Obituary

BAHRE, Conrad Joseph June 8, 1942 – July 10, 2017 Conrad was born in Indianapolis, Ind., and raised in Tucson, AZ. He grew up in the Catalina Foothills and lived the life that boys of that era would dream of – swimming in the backyard, riding horses, roaming the desert, and eventually building hot rods, hunting the backcountry of Arizona, and fishing wherever he could. He attended Green Fields School in Tucson and Verde Valley School in Sedona, AZ. Conrad was a geographer by inclination and trained at the University of Arizona, Louisiana State University and the University of California, Riverside. He did his master's thesis on the life ways of the Seri Indians of Sonora, and his doctoral dissertation on human transformation of the natural vegetation of Coquimbo Province, Chile. He served as a professor of Geography at the University of California, Davis, until his retirement. While at Davis, the bulk of his research focused on the effects of historic land use on the landscape, mostly in southern Arizona. Aside from his scholarship, Conrad will be remembered as a truly gentle man, a renowned host and cook - especially around the campfire. He was a lover of animals, especially his dog and companion, Seri, and a dear friend to all who knew him. He will be missed. A gathering to remember Conrad will be Saturday, August 5, 2017, at the Arizona History Museum, 949 E. 2nd St., Tucson, Ariz., from 5:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Donations in his name can be made to the Humane Society of Southern Arizona, 3450 N. Kelvin Blvd., Tucson, AZ., 85716.

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Published by Arizona Daily Star on Jul. 30, 2017.

Memories and Condolences
for Conrad BAHRE

24 Entries

Will Caplinger

July 24, 2025

If people were cookware, Conrad was a paella pan.

Stephen C. Jett

May 18, 2024

Conrad was a colleague and good friend; I was a prime beneficiary of his keen mind, his entertaining stories, and his gourmandise cum oenophilia! He is much missed.

Juan Skinner

March 15, 2023

I keep in memory Prof Conrad Bahre. His teachings at UC Davis, opened a legacy of study the agricultural and vegetation history of my country, Guatemala, and the ethno-geography of Mesoamerica. He is a very important teacher. Rest in peace Dr. Bahre and sensible condolences to his family and friends, and all who had the honor and good luck to have been his student.

Will Caplinger

October 30, 2022

Conrad was my advisor at UCD. His heart was as big as his paella pan. I regret not following his advice to do my thesis on the tequila industry impacts to the vegetation of northern Mexico.

Neil Levine

August 20, 2021

Neil Levine

August 20, 2021

Neil Levine

August 20, 2021

I got to know Conrad quite well many years ago when we lived next to each other in a duplex in Davis CA. He loved cooking and was great at it. He often invited me to dinner for some of the best meals I've ever had. We occasionally traveled together to Sea Ranch on the coast to fish and also to Cabo San Lucas where he tried to catch a Marlin. He was very fond if his dogs, Solo, an obstinate basset hound and later on, Sari, a sweet mixed breed. We often spent time at the duplex shooting the breeze and listening to his stories. After he moved back to Arizona, we lost touch after a while and I was saddened when not too long ago I found out about his passing. I've attached a couple of pictures of Conrad doing some of his favorite things, cooking our caught fish at Sea Ranch and relaxing there with Sari.

I miss his generosity and company.

Michael Reed

February 7, 2019

Conrad was my faculty advisor during my Master's studies in Geography at U.C. Davis in the late '70s. Conrad and I developed a warm friendship during that time, often switching to Spanish in friendly conversations. His encouragement and advice regarding so many large and small details in carrying out research are greatly appreciated. Above all, his high regard for the Latin Americanist geographers, who trained at U.C. Berkeley under Carl Sauer greatly influenced the direction of my studies and my personal interests. I treasure the time spent with Conrad discussing the numerous Ibero Americana monographs about Latin America, which he considered classics of scholarship in Cultural Historical Geography. It is sad to learn of his passing. Thanks for everything, Conrad.

Kathryn Gibbs

July 26, 2018

I will sincerely miss you and will think of you always

June 8, 2018

Have not missed your birthday in 30 years. Thinking of you today.
Kathryn Gibbs

Nora M.

June 7, 2018

I try to send you, Conrad, an email on Christmases and on your birthdays. Your birthday is tomorrow, so I thought of you again. But since you haven't responded to my recent messages, I went on a search engine online and I am so sad to see that you have been gone for over a year already. You will be missed. Rest in peace our friend and our old neighbor in Sacramento, CA.

Kathryn Gibbs

March 10, 2018

I was thinking of you today. I miss you and will not forget you.

Margee Kohloss and Ted Ralston

October 27, 2017

Conrad, Jill, Margee and Ted took a camping trip to Mexico during Spring Break in 1965. Conrad was collecting data for his masters thesis. He didnt want to make the trip alone. We were up for the adventure.
We crossed the border at Sasabe. We passed through Pitoquito, Desemboque, Puerto Penasco, Libertad, to Tiberon Island.
We encountered Seri villages, with clusters of huts and corrals. The roads were mostly two lane tracks. The estuary expanded beyond the horizons with pristine, shallow waters. Timeless beauty.
Conrad cooked over an open fire with the cast iron kettle and a grill.
We returned through Hermosillo and Nogales. It was a trip of a lifetime.

I was not able to say good bye...
Conrad, farwell, my dear friend, you are treasured and will always be in our memories

Ron Jones

September 17, 2017

Conrad and I were best friends for more than 50 years -- a friendship that started when we were just neighbors in Riverside, CA. We cooked, fished, found good wines, and generally enjoyed each other's company. I will miss him.

Brad Hicks

September 1, 2017

So sad to see this. I was just googling him because I have very fond memories of him as my professor at UC Davis. I actually made a Conrad J. Bahre Fan Club hat and pennant back in the 80's! Humble man that he was, he thought I was making fun of him; it took some convincing to get him to accept that it was, in fact, a compliment. I had many wonderful chats with him in his office, and he will always be one of my best memories from those days.

August 26, 2017

Conrad was the most curious person I ever met, he was interested in EVERYTHING and always full of wonder. He truly contributed to the body of knowledge in the world. I was privileged to have known him. Jill Japan

Gerald Hughes

August 5, 2017

Conrad was a wonderful story teller. I could sit and listen to him for hours. He was truly a gentle man, one of the few that I have met in my life. I am very glad that I was able to share a little of his time.

August 4, 2017

Conrad was always a delightful host whether in Sacramento or on River Road. Very much enjoyed and will greatly miss our all to infrequent long conversations late at night on AZ landscape history and all its nooks and crannies. Bob Brumbaugh, Alexandria,VA

Glassing for javelina

Steve Archer

August 2, 2017

I first knew Conrad from his scholarship and work on land cover change in southern AZ. When he retired and moved back to Tucson I got to know him personally. We had many good camping and hunting trips together and I was constantly amazed by his working knowledge of southern Arizona: its lanscapes, history and people. Our outdoor adventures were complimented by wonderful dinners at his home - prepared from scratch, often cooked over a bed of mesquite coals, and accompanied by nice wine. I will miss my good friend.

Nancy Reid

August 2, 2017

I'm surprised I never ran into Conrad during the many years I grew up riding my horse throughout the Catalina Foothills, especially with our interests having been so similar. I'll look for Conrad in the Milky Way...

L. M.

July 31, 2017

Extending heartfelt condolences and prayers of comfort to the Bahre family. May the hope and promise of everlasting life sustain and comfort you during this difficult time. John 11: 24 & 25

Paul Sheppard

July 31, 2017

I once had lunch with Conrad Bahre to discuss environmental history and ecosystem health of Southern Arizona. A delightful moment for me that I shall cherish always.

Nan Schubel

July 30, 2017

When I moved back to Arizona, Conrad took me on a fabulous drive through Patagonia, sharing his knowledge and love of the geography all along the way. He was an old friend from college. Rest in peace.

July 30, 2017

My sincere sympathies to the family and friends for their loss. During this difficult time may you take some comfort in the words found at James 1:13

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