Colin O. Hermans

I knew Colin when I worked at the San Historical Museum and the U of W Labs in Friday Harbor had an exhibit there. And I met Mary, Colin's wife, through my Mum who volunteered at the Friday Harbor Library with my Mum, Pat Madden. I feel blessed to have known such a wonderful, intelligent and kind couple. Susan Madden

I was saddened to hear that Dr. Hermans passed away. I have many fond memories of him, as a student in his electron microscopy class and adjunct lab instructor for his Bio lecture. I will never forget witnessing him run down the central corridor of the auditorium in his Super ATP-Man costume, much to the bewilderment of his students. He was a super man and will surely be missed.

Haiku Memories from Pat and John Nelson Three days on Stewart Colin, Mary, Pat, John, all Twenty years married From Bodega Bay To sea, Alciope sails, full; Yikes! planing in Rafting Kern River Group: Hermans, Johnsons, Nelsons Karen leads; great fun New Years Eve camping Grand Canyon; Hermans, Nelsons Less 10; champagne froze Sending memories and love, Pat and John Nelson

How appropriate to plant trees in Colin's memory; I have seen him shimmy up a tree more than once. Such memories of him make me smile, and brought laughter to Mary too! Anna Schieck

I just became aware of the passing of a very important person in my life. Colin Hermans was my professor, mentor and longtime friend. Colin taught me the basics of biological electron microscopy that led to my career as an electron microscopist - I will be eternally grateful for his mentorship and friendship. My time at Sonoma State coincided with Colin's work on his literature review annelid reproduction. An enormous project and review of almost 700 citations. His work ethic was the best...

For 30 years I have periodically checked in on Dr. Hermans. I had to take Biology twice...first time did not take, second time thankfully did, because I got to meet Dr. Hermans when I switched my major (ok...it really stuck second time). I had the pleasure of taking Aquatic Invertebrates and my notebook is still a great treasure (my first major was art) that I have shared with 28 years of students. I learned the natural history of just about every animal we could find on those trips to the...

Dear Karen, Tom & Helen, I am so very sorry to have recently learned that your father passed away. It was my great pleasure to reconnect with him when I was conducting research at FHL, many years after we all spent glorious summer days enjoying all that is special about the lab community and San Juan Island. A childhood memory of enjoying his specially spiced & grilled "Colin burgers" comes to mind right now, followed closely by memories of lovely conversations later in my career about...

So sorry to hear of Colin´s passing. I met Colin in the early 80´s when I started my first job at Optical Coating Lab Inc. (OCLI). I was right out of grad school and needed access to equipment that was not available at OCLI. I´d learned that SSU had a biology program that used ultramicrotomes to cut very thin slices of biological materials, using glass and diamond knives, to prepare very thin samples for electron microscope analysis. I admit my idea was wacky, but I called Colin and told...