Dr. Victor B. Scheffer

In 2003 I was in the 5th of 8 years caring for my 93 yr old mother Beatrice, in Burlington,MA. Northeastern University's satellite location was a mile away. The small Library had a cart that was daily replenished with books for the taking. Dr Scheffer's Year of the Seal,1970 caught my eye as a book mother would enjoy hearing me read to her. I read it 4 times and taped it for an elderly cousin, also 94. How fortunate to have had a man of his inspiration with us for so long, touching so many...

I was greatly saddened to read of Dr. Scheffer's passing in this issue of the UW Alumni Magazine. I first met Dr. Scheffer in the 1970s as I was completing my master's degree in biology at the University of Washington. Over the years, I ran into him occasionally when I visited the Puget Sound area. He was an exciting professor and taught me a great deal about the natural history of vertebrates -- those on both land and sea. I bought his books and read them to my children and told them stories...

Scheffer and Slipp 1948 is the first best account of marine mammals in Puget Sound. Interestingly, the harbor porpoise which was most abundant at that time is no longer found here with any regularity. It was through this type of information that I became familiar with Dr. Scheffer. My fondness only grew from there as I saw him at various conferences and gathering remaining sharp as a tack. Then just as I thought I had reason enough for him to be a personal hero of mine, I saw a slide show...

I was fortunate enough to have met Dr. Scheffer on a couple of occasions in the early 90s while I was on the board the the Puget Sound/Pacific Northwest chapter of the American Cetacean Society. I was tickled to at least briefly be in the presence of such an influential & important researcher. --Jeff Rothal, Pacific Grove, CA

Dr. Scheffer has influenced and inspired countless marine mammal researchers and budding naturalists. We celebrate his life.

Uko Gorter,
On behalf of the American Cetacean Society (Puget Sound Chapter)

A man who inspired so many of us both as a marine biologist and as member of society. I knew him from the days of forming the Society of Marine Mammalogy and from his involvement with Seattle Audubon. I am proud to have offered his name as the winner of the Science Award at Seattle Audubon. We need more people like Vic in our science and out society.