Jeffrey A. Kurland

Jeffrey A. Kurland November 19, 1943 July 11, 2018 Jeffrey A. Kurland died on July 11, 2018, at home after an extended illness. He was born on November 19, 1943, in Queens, N.Y. He graduated from Great Neck North High School, Great Neck, N.Y., in 1961, and from Cornell University with a Bachelor's Degree in Philosophy in 1966. After studying Philosophy at MIT under a Woodrow Wilson Fellowship, he then attended Harvard University, receiving his Ph.D in Anthropology in 1975, and was awarded a Graduate Prize Fellowship. He joined the faculty of the Penn State Department of Anthropology in 1975, and retired as Associate Professor Emeritus of Anthropology and Human Development in 2010. His research in primatology, biological anthropology and evolutionary theory took him to Borneo, Japan, Cayo Santiago, and Botswana. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Roberta F. Kurland, nee Jalet, of Pennsylvania Furnace; his daughter Jessica E. K. Buckland and grandson Sacha Dmitri Buckland, of State College; his son Samuel Marius Kurland, of Seattle; brother Charles G. Kurland and nieces Lisa, Jennifer and Siri Kurland, all of Sweden; and nieces Hannah, Yetta and Justine Kurland, all of New York, N.Y. He was preceded in death by his parents William and Sylvia Kurland; and by his brother Bruce Kurland. Jeffrey loved music, the arts, science, and his family above all else. The blues, his guitar, and nature gave him solace. Teaching students about the importance of science was his mission in life and brought him great joy and meaning. A memorial celebration will be scheduled at a later date. In lieu of flowers donations can be directed to Amnesty International or Doctors Without Borders.