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Dr. Dale Alden Thornburgh

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University of Washington

Dale Thornburgh Obituary

Dr. Dale Alden Thornburgh Dale Alden Thornburgh was born on Dec. 1, 1931, in Tiffin, Ohio and passed away on Feb. 24, 2013, with his family at his side. He grew up in Missoula, Montana and Bremerton, Washington. He received a BS and PhD in Forestry from the University of Washington and a MS in Forestry from UC, Berkeley. While in college he was a champion hurdler and qualified for the national trials, barely missing the Olympics. In 1953 he was drafted into the Army and stationed in Brooklyn, NY. Along the way, he met the love of his life Pat Thornburgh and they were married for 52 years, enjoying their family of three sons and their wives, one foster daughter, and nine wonderful grandchildren. In 1965, Dale and Pat moved to Arcata where Dale was a professor of Silviculture and Ecosystems Management at Humboldt State University for 40 years. Dale exposed thousands of students to a "kinder and gentler" approach to forest management. Being an avid hiker and back packer, Dale scaled most of the notable peaks in the Pacific Northwest. As a professor at HSU, Dale prided himself on being able to beat the students up the trails and was known for always wearing shorts, no matter what the outside temperature was. He and his colleague, Dr. John Sawyer of the Botany Dept. spent many hours in the 1970's studying the ecology of the Klamath Mountains. In one diverse area, called the Miracle Mile, they discovered 17 species of conifer trees and over 400 plants. Dale traveled worldwide to study and admire trees, spending time in Europe, China, and parts of the Middle East. Dale was an original member of the City of Arcata's Forest Management Committee and served on it for 27 years. He helped bring scientific credibility to the City Forest and brought international attention to its programs. He was also a California Registered Professional Forester and received The Sequoia Award from the Pacific Forest Trust on 2005. Dale is survived by his wife, Pat, his sons Larry and Joel, his brother Gerry, his 9 grandchildren (Faye, Julia, Sara, Charles, Marlie, Scott, Avery, Sean, and Erin) and his loyal and trusted friend, Dr. Bill Sise. He was preceded in death by his parents, Paul and Elaine Thornburgh, his sister Lois Thornburgh, his son Mark Thornburgh, and his grandson Gregory Thornburgh. The family is planning a memorial dedication at a later date. Memorial donations may be made to the Arcata Forest Fund of the Humboldt Area Foundation, 363 Indianola Road, Bayside, CA 95524. Please sign the guest book at www.Times-Standard.com, click obits.

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Published by Times-Standard from Mar. 1 to Mar. 3, 2013.

Memories and Condolences
for Dale Thornburgh

21 Entries

carl mize

March 15, 2019

I have thought about Dale since he passed. my wife and I have stayed in arcata for multiple weeks over the last 3 years. We visited with Pat, Dale's wife, of many years every time and spent time at dances and eating with her. she has the tranquility and friendliness I recall about dale. as a major professor, he was easy going. as a human being he was the same and interested in other people.

Pete Nicolle

April 9, 2013

I awoke from a dream this early April morning and something told me to search for Dale. I am saddened by his passing, but truly thankful to have known him.

Alan Storey

March 29, 2013

Few have had a more profound influence on my life than Dale Thornburgh and his family.

Love and condolences.

Carl Yee

March 22, 2013

The world and I will miss Dale. A great person, colleague, and friend. He lived a great life and did much good. May God keep his spirit alive in those he knew.

Bill Jones

March 18, 2013

I had my first exposure to silviculture from Dale in 1966. I worked with him on occasion at HSU in the '90's. He was ahead of his time in forest perspective. He'll be greatly missed.

Bill Richards

March 18, 2013

I spent many days walking in the woods with Dale during our shared time at the Pacific Forest Trust, learning about redwood ecology. But maybe more valuable to me was his advice about traveling the world with our children, allowing them to be partners in shared discovery. I will always be thankful to him.

Ralph Johnson

March 18, 2013

I too am saddened by the passing of Dr. Thornburgh. I was a student of his in the 60's and he made a lifelong positive impression on me. He will be missed.

Carl Mize

March 18, 2013

Dale was my major professor in the mid 70's and had a positive influence on me as a future forester (actually professor, not forester) and a human being. I was lucky enough to spend many days working in the woods looking for Brewer spruce with him and having great conversations over camp fires. I suspect he was a role model for some us who believed that "it's all relative." Dale liked to be different and we benefited from it and it brought enjoyment and smiles to many lives.

Douglas Piirto

March 15, 2013

I am saddened to hear of Dr. Dale Thornburgh's passing. I extend my condolences to the Dale Thornburgh family and to Dr. Thornburgh's friends and colleagues. I know he took great pride in his work at Humboldt State University. I admire both the quality of Dr. Thornburgh's professional work and its impact. Dr. Thornburgh lives on in each of us who were fortunate enough to know him.
Sincerely Dr. Doug

Jim Andre

March 6, 2013

As a grad student of Dale's good friend John Sawyer back in the 1980s, Dale and Pat graciously provided housing (their home, cats and racoons too) to me while he was on sabbatical in the Cascades. In my tenure at HSU I was lucky enough to share many backcountry hikes with Dale (and John) and was awed by his knowledge of NW Calif. forest ecology, and even more impressed by his wisdom and love for the land. What I'd give to be on those hikes again! Thanks Dale for being one of the truly inspirational ecologists I have known.

Barbara Mitchell

March 5, 2013

I am sorry to hear about Dale. He will be missed
Barbara from Dr. Franz office

Steve Kramer

March 5, 2013

I was very sorry to hear about Dale's passing. I was fortunate enough to take a course (Dynamics of Old Growth Forests) that Dale taught about 20 years ago. It was one of the best courses I ever had. He was a true mentor.

Diane Ogle

March 4, 2013

Dale...he gave us such a fresh perspective on our chosen path. He always made you question your choices, whether stand management or what you ordered for lunch! "It's all relative", he would say, so justify it! So true in life. I'm so thankful we have those memories!

Connie Best

March 3, 2013

When Laurie Wayburn and I founded the Pacific Forest Trust to work with landowners to conserve working forests we asked Prof. Jerry Franklin at UW who he admired as a forester and he said, without hesitation, Dale Thornburgh. He introduced us and Dale kindly served as PFT's Senior Forester and guiding light for many years. His insights into forests and forestry continue to inspire us. Truly a giant among foresters, teachers and all who love forests, we recognized Dale with PFT's first Sequoia Award.

Don Mead

March 3, 2013

I was sorry to hear Of Dale's passing. Although I had less to do with him than many students, I enjoyed the times we met and discussed silviculture etc. My sympathies to all the family and his friends

Mark Andre, Dale Thornburgh and Mayor Connie Stewart in the Arcata Community Forest

Mark Andre

March 3, 2013

I will think of Dale every time I see Brewer's spruce in the high Klamath Mountains. Dale was a real pioneer in helping to develop the art and science of ecologically based forest management........

Bob Kelley

March 3, 2013

I always looked forward to Dale's classes, although I was never sure if I picked up on the message he wanted us to get. At some later point though, the light would go on and something would click, and that's how Dale's instructing worked for me. He was always approachable and willing to talk about forestry issues or outside topics and provide advice. Dale was both a friend and mentor to those lucky enough to have gone through the Forestry program. He always seemed to have a smile. I remember one incident early in the program when I had to talk with Dale and he was in Bill Sise's office. He was standing in the door way, not quite in the office talking with Bill as I got there. I could tell by his smile and facial expression that he really enjoyed students' first reactions to seeing the chaos inside Bill's office. I think he is still smiling.

Jana Seeliger

March 2, 2013

To Dale's family: you were there beside him and behind him his whole life, to support him and help him have the good life he did. It's going to take me some time to absorb his passing. He was my major professor and he helped me quite a bit to have a good life especially while I was at the university.

March 2, 2013

What a swell person! I wish I'd known Dale long ago. You Thornburghs are a wonderful family.

Love, Maggie Shaffer

Jim Robbins

March 1, 2013

Dr. Thornburg was my most memorable professor at HSU. He had a true passion for forestry. What I truly remember is that there was never a "right" answer in his silviculture class. He always challenged us to think "outside the box." I credit him for helping me get accepted into the graduate forestry program at Oregon State University and a great career in forestry. I will remember him every time I run, hike, or bike in the Arcata Community Forest. His vision helped create a sustainable forest that is successfully managed for many values.

Dave & Lynn Kitchen

March 1, 2013

Dale was good friend to young faculty and helped them adjust to Humboldt State, even faculty from other departments. Over the years he was one of my most valued faculty friends. He was certainly one of the most respected faculty at HSU my myself and other faculty in departments outside of forestry. After retirement he continued to be a good friend and at times advisor. Lynn and I were so very fortunate to know Dale and to have breakfast with Bill Sise and Dale at Toni's in January as we returned to the area from Stanford. I will always remember his careful, soft spoken advice to me during my time at HSU and afterwards.

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