David Gillette

1946 - 2025

David Gillette
March 20, 1946 - February 10, 2025
David Duane "Dave" Gillette passed away on February 10th surrounded by loved ones at his home in Flagstaff, AZ. Dave was preceded in death by his parents, Dean and Julia, and is survived by his wife of 30 years, Janet; daughter, Jennifer; son-in-law, Victor; beloved grandchildren, Timothy, Nicholas, and Josephine; first wife, Lynett; sister, Deana; brothers-in-law, Mark and Jim (Lynn); and nephews, Zakary and Max.
Dave was born in South Bend, IN and graduated from Brandywine High School in Niles, MI (1964). He completed a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Michigan State University (1967) and was awarded a predoctoral fellowship at the Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History (1972–1973) and subsequently received a Ph.D. from Southern Methodist University (1974). Always quick to point out he was just a farm kid from Michigan and never a star student, Dave insisted he owed his academic achievements to stubbornness and hard work rather than any innate intellectual capacity. His professional accomplishments, however, suggest otherwise.
He launched his academic career at Bryn Mawr University (1974–1975) as Visiting Professor of Geology, followed by a year as Assistant Professor of Geology (1975–1976) at Sul Ross State University. He landed next at the College of Idaho, where he was Associate Professor of Biology and Geology from 1976–1981, but unfinished research in Texas called to him, and he returned to his alma mater, Southern Methodist University, as Assistant Professor of Geology (1981–1983). However, lured by the opportunity to develop public programs and exhibits at a new museum, he then joined the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science as its first Curator of Paleontology (1983–1988). Taking a ten-year break from the museum world, he worked for the Utah Geologic Survey as State Paleontologist of Utah (1988–1998) before accepting in 1998 the prestigious position of Colbert Curator of Paleontology at the Museum of Northern Arizona, where he remained until his retirement in 2020.
Dave's professional interests were varied and focused primarily on vertebrate paleontology, evolutionary biology, college-level and public education and outreach, and resource management. With over 220 publications during his career, he is recognized as a leading authority on Neogene glyptodonts. Other notable accomplishments include his work on the Jurassic and Cretaceous dinosaurs Diplodocus (Seismosaurus) hallorum and Nothronychus graffami (which is on exhibit at the MNA), Mesozoic marine reptiles of the Tropic Shale, and Pleistocene mammoths. Over his long career, Dave worked with many students of all ages, inspiring new generations of paleontologists.
Dave was a gifted communicator, equally at home lecturing in a classroom, delivering papers at professional meetings, showing fossils to small children, or sharing stories in front of a camera with David Attenborough. While Dave's accomplishments were many, he was particularly proud of receiving the James H. Shea Award in 1998 from the National Association of Geoscience Teachers; the Bureau of Land Management's Award for Excellence in Education and Research (2001, for a live broadcast on discovering dinosaurs that reached perhaps 1,000,000 students); and the opportunity to testify before Congress in support of expanding the boundaries of Petrified Forest National Park. He was also particularly proud of being the keynote speaker at the Flagstaff Festival of Science in 2007, and of his involvement with Utah Friends of Paleontology, New Mexico Friends of Paleontology, Make-A-Wish Foundation, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. The children he met through the latter two organizations were very special to him, and he remained in contact with the families with which he was first involved in the 1990s for the rest of his life.
Dave wouldn't want to be remembered solely for his professional achievements. An avid birder, hiker, and nature-lover, he also loved nothing better than trading funny stories with friends and colleagues over a beer (or three). He could build a chicken coop, catch lizards, imitate the call of a red-tailed hawk, delight in wearing blindingly mis-matched shirts and pants, describe how to build a latrine (which is another great story altogether), and he loved wearing his brightly-colored socks that said "Cool-a** Grandpa".
A celebration of Dave's life will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, April 13th at Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Dave's name to the Flagstaff Festival of Science (https://scifest.org/gillette/).
Condolences may be shared with the family at norvelowensmortuary.com.