Harald E. Esch

Dec. 22, 1931 - Oct. 7, 2017

MISHAWAKA - Dr. Harald E. Esch, age 85, passed away peacefully on Saturday, October 7, 2017, at NHC Farragut, TN. He was born on December 22, 1931, in Dusseldorf, Germany, to Helene (Stiesch) and Walter Esch. In February 1955, he married Ilse T. Braun.

Originally a physicist, Dr. Esch changed directions and became a biologist after studying with Dr. Karl von Frisch, a Nobel Prize in Medicine Laureate. Dr. Esch received his doctorate from the University of Wurzburg in 1960. He became an international authority on bee communication.

In 1964, Dr. Esch and his family came to the United States and he started his career at the University of Notre Dame. He was a full professor in the Biology department and retired in 2005. A passionate teacher, Dr. Esch continued to teach on a part-time basis for several years. Dr. Esch spent much time studying the “killer bees” and traveled to Brazil several times to carry out his research. He also worked closely with a number of researchers in Wurzburg, Germany. He had many publications about his work in numerous scientific journals and magazines.

Dr. Esch enjoyed traveling, classical music, and his bees. He is survived by his daughter, Iris I. Esch-Williams (Mark), and was preceded in death by his wife, Ilse T. Esch, and his son, Jan E. Esch.

A memorial service will be held on November 21, 2017, at 10:00 am at the Cedar Grove Cemetery Chapel, Notre Dame, Indiana. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to any Hospice provider or to the Salvation Army.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by South Bend Tribune on Oct. 12, 2017.

Memories and Condolences
for Harald Esch

Sponsored by Berry Highland Memorial.

8 Entries

David Schmitt

December 28, 2017

Dr. Esch, Harald, was the director of a dissertation that would result in my being awarded a doctorate in 1992: "The Orientation of Honeybees in Earth-strength Magnetic Fields."

After having classroom contact with Dr. Esch, and finding a great interest in sensory biology, I petitioned to work under his direction. I remember to this day eagerly waiting and hoping that I would get the opportunity to work in his laboratory with him.

Harald had a keen intellect, and those of you who knew him knew of his wonderful sense of humor. He was full of aphorisms for transmitting the stuff of being a scientist--and of life--to his other graduate student, Franz Göller, and me.

There were so many fun projects that go into making up the big picture.

A dissertation is hard work. There must be tensions in most cases because most students need so much shaping in order to become a professional and effective scientist. The relationship that develops between a director and a doctoral student can be quite intense--I say--if it is a good relationship. And so, a doctoral director becomes like a second, in this case, father.

Harald came from an excellent academic pedigree. He was awarded his doctorate under the Nobel Laureate, Karl von Frisch, known for his work on color vision in fish and the Dance Language of Honey Bees.

One of Harald's first students was the very talented Joe Bastion. Joe did post-doctoral work with Walter Heiligenberg and later established a long career at the University of Oklahoma studying the neurobiology of electric fish.

I remember Harald relaying advice that von Frisch had given him: "It takes just as much effort to solve small, unimportant scientific problems as it does a big, important ones. Work on the big, important ideas."

Franz went on to have a very productive and admirable career studying bird song. I just recently gave some of Franz' papers to a young lady interested in singing, anatomy and neurobiology. See how these things multiply and open doors for advancement?

Work with Harald gave me the opportunity to work with Mel Kreithen on bird flight and the opportunity to spend three years as a guest scientist in the laboratory of Sten Grillner at the Nobel Institute of Neurophysiology.

As I attempted to say in the Acknowledgements to my Dissertation, I will now attempt to say again--maybe better a quarter of a century later, "Thank you, Harald, with deep love and appreciation." You made my life, and the lives of others, possible."

Ute Esch

November 14, 2017

For Uncle Harald.

I really like to remember the nice time we had together. It is been a long time, but I still talk about it today.
I liked to listen when he talked and I appreciated his humor very much.

I really liked him.

I believe, now he is spending his time with his wife and his son and my father (his Brother).

Ute Esch

Iris Esch-Williams

October 13, 2017

For my father who will now join my mother and brother.

Pam Bardon

October 13, 2017

Iris; I am in Mishawaka with Mom and saw your father's obituary in the South Bend Tribune. We are both so sorry for your loss. Hugs. Love, Pam Bardon and Ann Phillips. ,Iris; I am in Mishawaka with Mom and saw your father's obituary in the South Bend Tribune. We are both so sorry for your loss. Hugs. Love, Pam Bardon and Ann Phillips.

October 13, 2017

Dear Iris and mark,
You are in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.

Beth and Don

Silvia und Ernst Reyer-Völlenklee

October 12, 2017

Für unseren lieben Freund Harald!

Ann & Ernesto Rodriguez

October 12, 2017

Our condolence Iris.

Ann & Ernesto Rodriguez

Showing 1 - 8 of 8 results