“In Memory” is intended to acknowledge the passing of colleagues who have contributed to the field of herpetology. The entries are purposefully brief, as these are not intended to replace full obituaries. This site commenced in 2025 to feature passings that occurred from 2024 onward, with annual updates in Herpetological Review. Although this is not intended to be an entire retrospective on herpetologists through time, we will also allow earlier ones. In some cases, the editors of the site were unable to learn some specific details for some of the deceased. If you are aware of any missing details for these colleagues, please contact the editors so the entries can be updated.
Editors: Ray Novotny (raynovotny@yahoo.com) and Ken Dodd (terrapene600@gmail.com).
Updated March 2026
Blaney, Richard M.
b. 10 March 1944 Copiague, New York, USA
d. 3 September 2025 Live Oak, Florida, USA
Faculty, West Virginia State College (1976–1980), East Florida College (1980–2006)
Taxonomy of Lampropeltis
Reference: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-blaney-ba853648/
Brattstrom, Bayard Holmes
b. 3 July 1929 Chicago, Illinois, USA
d. 13 April 2024 Kingman, Arizona, USA
Professor, California State University, Fullerton
Editorial Board, Journal of Herpetology, 1968-1988. One of nine invited to reception honoring senior members at SSAR meeting 2015, University of Kansas.
Southwestern Association of Naturalists, W. Frank Blair Eminent Naturalist Award 2021
Reference: https://michaelshermer.substack.com/p/in-memoriam-bayard-brattstrom
Buskirk, James Richard
b. 17 August 1947 Berkeley, California, USA
d. 2 February 2026 Tracy, California, USA
Independent turtle biologist; Authority on Mexican, South American, and Asian species.
Member IUCN Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group
Reference: Phil Buskirk (brother), Gainesville, Florida, USA
Fawcett, James Davidson
b. 10 January 1933 New Plymouth, Taranaki, New Zealand
d. 25 January 2020 Omaha, Nebraska, USA
Professor of Biology, University of Nebraska-Omaha
Subjects: morphology, endocrinology, ecology, New Zealand herpetofauna
References: Somma, L. A. 2021. James Davidson Fawcett (1933–2020): Imbibing with The Kiwi. Herpetological Review 52(2):462-466 + online supplements: http://dx.doi.org/10.26153/tsw/12486, http://dx.doi.org/10.26153/tsw/12487, http://dx.doi.org/10.26153/tsw/13204); https://www.aucklandmuseum.com/your-museum/support-your-museum/bequests/james-fawcett; https://www.unomaha.edu/college-of-arts-and-sciences/news/2022/06/from-talented-clarinetist-to-noted-herpetologist.php
Garrett, Clay Mitchell
b. 20 December 1962 Houston, Texas, USA
d. 19 May 2023 Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA
Associate Curator Herpetology, Ft. Worth Zoo
Redesigned the cover for HR (used 1992 & 1993).
Editor, Vivarium magazine
Illustrator, Venomous Reptiles of Latin America (by J. A. Campbell & W. W. Lamar)
Reference: https://www.simplycremationco.com/obituary/Clay-Garrett
Gregory, Patrick Thomas
b. 25 June 1946 Bilston, England
d. 6 December 2025 Cowichan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Professor of Biology, University of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada (1973-2018)
Co-chair of SSAR meeting at UV, 2012; SSAR Board of Directors 2009-2012
Reference: https://www.legacy.com/ca/obituaries/theglobeandmail/name/patrick-gregory-obituary?id=60383452
Hicks, Tell
b. 30 March 1951 London, England
d. 12 December 2025 Somerset, England
One of the world’s leading wildlife artists, specializing in reptiles and amphibians
1st prize at the “1st International Competition for Herpetological Scientific Illustration 2014,”
X111 Iberian Congress of Herpetology, University of Aveiro, Portugal
Reference: https://tellhicks.com/
Hunt, Robert Howard
b. 30 October 1940 Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
d. 8 June 2025 Folkston, Georgia, USA
Curator of Herpetology, Zoo Atlanta
Independent Researcher, Okefenokee Wildlife Refuge
Speaker in the 1978 SSAR symposium “The Reproductive Biology and Diseases of Captive Reptiles” and author in the subsequent book of same title (1980), the inaugural volume in SSAR’s monographic series, Contributions to Herpetology
Reference: https://www.shepardrobersonfh.com/obituaries/howard-hunt
Köhler, Gunther
b. 20 May 1965 Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
d. 15 June 2025 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Curator of Herpetology, Forschungsinstitut und Naturmuseum Senckenberg
Served as Associate Editor, Herpetological Review, 1999–2024
Reference: https://bestattungen-schaack.gemeinsam-trauern.net/begleiten/gunther-koehler
Lazcano-Villarreal, David
b. 2 February 1952 Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, México
d. 12 April 2025 Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, México
Professor, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, México
Reference: https://biologiaysociedad.uanl.mx/index.php/b/article/view/201
Littlejohn, Murray J.
b. 26 March 1932 Cottesloe, Western Australia, Australia
d. 12 October 2024 Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Professor, University of Melbourne; Foundation President of the Australian Society of Herpetologists; President, Second World Congress of Herpetology, Adelaide
Editorial Board, Journal of Herpetology
References: https://www.eoas.info/biogs/P006994b.htm
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-08-30/meet-frog-recording-pioneer-murray-littlejohn/8827066
Pengilley, Ross Keith
b. 3 January 1938 Scone, New South Wales, Australia
d. 18 June 2025 Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia
Honored by the taxonomic designation of the Northern Corroboree Frog, Pseudophryne pengilleyi
Reference and memorial statements: https://www.facebook.com/groups/499687943439298/posts/30120518164262884/
Pfingsten, Ralph A.
b. 22 November 1939 Cleveland, Ohio, USA
d. 25 March 2021 Berea, Ohio, USA
Research Associate, Cleveland Museum of Natural History (1985-2021).
Senior Editor and major contributing author:
Salamanders of Ohio (1989), Amphibians of Ohio (2013), and Reptiles of Ohio (2021)
Ohio Biological Survey: Naturalist Award (2013), Herbert Osborn Award (2022)
Reference: https://akronrrclub.wordpress.com/2021/03/29/historian-ralph-pfingsten-dies/
Salthe, Stanley Norman
b. 16 October 1930 New York City, New York, USA
d. 4 January 2024 Deposit, New York, USA
Professor, Brooklyn College of the City University of New York (1965-1990); Visiting Scientist at SUNY Binghamton University campus (1992-2024); Associate Researcher of the Center for the Philosophy of Nature and Science Studies of the University of Copenhagen
Speaker in the Society’s 10th anniversary symposium, “The Biology of Salamanders,” at 1967 meeting in Columbus, Ohio, which celebrated the change in name to SSAR
Managing Editor of Journal of Herpetology, 1980–1989
Savage, Jay Mathers
b. 26 August 1926 Santa Monica, California, USA
d. 3 November 2025 San Diego, California, USA
Professor of Biology, University of Southern California (1956-1962) and University of Miami (1962-1998); Adjunct San Diego State University (1998-2025)
Co-founder the Organization for Tropical Studies, 1963
Co-author, Introduction to the Herpetofauna of Costa Rica/Introducción a la Herpetofauna de Costa Rica, SSAR Contributions to Herpetology, Volume 3, 1986; reprinted 1988 and 1995
Co-author to introduction and additional chapters in Herpetological Contributions of Giorgio Jan, SSAR Facsimile Reprint in Herpetology, 2017
Henry S. Fitch Award for Excellence in Herpetology, American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists (ASIH), 2000
Scott, Norman Jackson Jr.
b. 30 September 1934 Los Angeles, California, USA
d. 17 October 2025 Joshua Tree, California, USA
Assistant Professor of Biology, University of Connecticut (1968-1974)
Zoologist, US Fish & Wildlife Service (1974-1993) and US Geological Survey (1993-2001)
SSAR President in 1987
Stewart Glenn R.
b. 7 February 1936 Perris, California, USA
d. 4 September 2025 La Verne, California, USA
Faculty at California Polytechnic University (Pomona)
Advocate for conservation of Mojave Desert Tortoises and the Mojave Desert
Tolson, Peter J.
b. 31 July 1944 Cleveland, Ohio, USA
d. 19 October 2024 New Franklin, Ohio, USA
Curator of Reptiles & Amphibians and Director of Conservation and Research, The Toledo Zoo, Ohio
Moderator: Breeding and Care of Endangered Species, SSAR meeting 1984, [Co-sponsor HL and ISIH] University of Oklahoma; HL Section Editor, Life History Notes 1986-1991
Reference: https://www.schermesserfh.com/obituary/Peter-Tolson
Tucker, Anton Dean (Tony)
b. 25 June 1957 Washington, Georgia, USA
d. 1 February 2025 Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Senior Research Scientist for the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions for the Western Australia Government
Editorial Board, Journal of Herpetology
References:https://www.hopkinsfuneralhome.com/obituaries/dr-anton-tucker
https://flatbacks.dbca.wa.gov.au/latest-updates/memory-dr-anton-d-tucker
Vial, James Leslie
b. 19 December 1924 Taft, California, USA
d. 9 February 2026 The Villages, Florida, USA
SSAR President 1976
Chair 1970 SSAR Meeting, University of Missouri, Kansas City
Editor of book of proceedings of a symposium held at that 1970 meeting:
Evolutionary Biology of the Amphibians (1973), University of Missouri Press
Editor, Journal of Herpetology, 1990
Reference: https://neptunesociety.com/obituaries/summerfield-fl/james-vial-12744332
Wilson, Dawn
b. 18 January 1959 Savannah, Georgia, USA
d. 7 February 2026 Pensacola, Florida, USA
Professor, Chico State University, Chico, California (1999-2003)
Director, Southwestern Research Station, American Museum of Natural History, Portal, Arizona (2004–2012)
Editorial Board, Journal of Herpetology, Board of Directors member (2001-2002). Inaugural Chair of Student Participation Committee (2010-2014)
Reference: https://www.westfloridafh.com/obituaries/dawn-wilson
Yang, Datong
b. 12 April 1937 Anyue, Sichuan, China
d. 30 December 2025 Kunming, Yunnan, China
Professor at Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and one of China’s foremost herpetologists
Seminal works include Amphibians and Reptiles of Yunnan (2008), Amphibians and Reptiles of the Hengduan Mountains Region (1997), and Amphibians of Yunnan (1989)
Reference: Colleague Jing Che, Kunming Institute of Zoology
The list below is the initial publication of this section (July 2025), in alphabetical order by surname.
Bolten, Alan Bruce
b. May 27, 1945 Essex, New Jersey
d. March 21, 2021 Gainesville, Florida
Associate Director, Archie Carr Center for Sea Turtle Research, University of Florida
Reference: https://bnt.bs/latest-news/in-memoriam-dr-alan-bruce-bolten/
Bour, Roger
b. July 9, 1947 Fontainbleau (Seine et Marne), France
d. March 7, 2020 Paris, France
Curator, Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle
Introduction to SSAR Facsimile (2012): Erpetologie Generale ou Histoire Naturelle Complete des Reptiles
Reference: Roger Bour (1947-2020), Le « chélonogiste » du Muséum de Paris. Bulletin de la Société Herpétologique de France, 2025, 186:1-32.
Brooks, Ronald (Ron) James
b. April 16, 1941 Toronto, Ontario
d. December 18, 2023 Guelph, Ontario
Professor of Zoology, University of Guelph
Chair, SSAR Nominating Committee 2003
Reference: https://canadianherpetology.ca/blog/blog_post.html?id=24
Brown, Lauren Evans
b. September 4, 1939 Waukesha, Wisconsin
d. March 10, 2021 Pittsfield, Illinois
Professor of Biology, Illinois State University
Author, SSAR Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles (CAAR)
Reference: https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/pantagraph/name/lauren-brown-obituary?id=7230610
Cook, Francis Russell
b. March 3, 1935 Wolfville, Nova Scotia
d. January 3, 2020 Kemptville, Ontario
Curator, National Museum of Canada (now the Canadian Museum of Nature)
Reference: Tribute to “The Snake Man,” Francis Russell Cook, Ph.D., C.M. (1935-2020). Canadian Field-Naturalist, 2020, 134(1):74-81.
Cundall, Frances (Fran) Jane Irish
b. March 17, 1950 Midland, Michigan
d. September 10, 2024 Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Biology Instructor, Moravian University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Reference: https://www.mcall.com/obituaries/frances-jane-irish-cundall/
Frazer, Nathaniel B. (Nat)
b. March 30, 1949 Cochran, Georgia
d. December 7, 2020 Eugene, Oregon
Professor, University of Florida; Dean, Utah State University
Chair, SSAR Conservation Committee 1988
Reference: https://www.usu.edu/advancement/give/memorial/frazer
Heyer, William Ronald (Ron)
b. August 29, 1941 Bellingham, Washington
d. October 8, 2023 Arlington, Virginia
Curator, Reptiles & Amphibians, Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History
Chair, SSAR meeting, Tacoma, Washington 1973; Coordinator, Current Literature in Herpetology 1974, Author; Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles (CAAR)
Reference: https://www.plu.edu/resolute/fall-2024/class-notes/dr-william-ronald-ron-heyer/
Highton, Richard (Dick) Taylor
b. December 24, 1927 Chicago, Illinois
d. February 19, 2025 Washington, D.C.
Professor, University of Maryland
Plenary Speaker, 1968 SSAR meeting, University of Virginia Mountain Lake Biological Station; Evolutionary geneticist of the genus Plethodon; Section Editor, SSAR Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles (CAAR)
Reference: https://www.goinghomecares.com/obituaries/Richard-Highton?obId=38286085
Hofmeyr, Margaretha (Retha) Delina
b. November 1, 1950 Kimberly, South Africa
d. February 7, 2020 Cape Town, South Africa
Professor, University of the Western Cape
Reference: Honoring the Legacy of Professor Margaretha Delina Hofmeyr (1950-2020). Chelonian Conservation and Biology, 2023, 22(1):1-2.
King, Frederic Wayne
b. May 30, 1936 West Palm Beach, Florida
d. November 7, 2022 Gainesville, Florida
Former Director, Professor & Curator of Herpetology, Florida Museum of Natural History; prior Director of Conservation, New York Zoological Society; founding member of IUCN Crocodile Specialist Group; Section Editor, SSAR Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles (CAAR)
Reference: Crocodile Specialist Group Newsletter, 2022, 41(4):3-4.
MacMahon, James Albert
b. April 17, 1939 Dayton, Ohio
d. May 6, 2024 Logan, Utah
Professor of Biology, Department Chair, Dean of Science, Vice President for Advancement, Utah State University
Journal of The Ohio Herpetological Society (Associate Editor 1964; Editor 1964)
Reference: https://www.usu.edu/today/story/celebrated-aggie-ecologist-and-utah-state-great-jim-macmahon-dies-at-85
Medica, Philip (Phil) A.
b. December 22, 1941 New York City
d. May 3, 2020 Las Vegas, Nevada
Research Associate, University of California-Los Angeles, Laboratory of Nuclear Medicine & Radiation Biology (Nevada Test Site). Biologist, U.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center.
Editor, SSAR Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles (CAAR)
Reference: In Memoriam: Philip A. Medica, Herpetological Stalwart (1941-2020). Herpetological Conservation and Biology, 2020, 15(2):i-ix.
Moody, Scott Michael
b. March 13, 1949 Grand Island, Nebraska
d. January 4, 2023 Albany, Ohio
Associate Professor of Biology, Ohio University
Reference: https://www.ohio.edu/news/2023/01/university-community-mourns-biology-professor-emeritus-scott-moody
Orr, Lowell Preston
b. December 11, 1930 Kingston, Ohio
d. December 2, 2024 Kent, Ohio
Professor of Biology, Kent State University
Co-Chair, Ohio Herpetological Society meeting, Kent 1963; Editorial posts for Journal of The Ohio Herpetological Society; SSAR Board of Directors
Reference: https://www.bisslerandsons.com/obituaries/dr-lowell-orr
Price, Andrew (Andy) Hoyt
b. May 12, 1951 Brussels, Belgium
d. January 16, 2012 Austin, Texas
Natural Resources Scientist, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
General Editor, SSAR Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles 2005-2012; SSAR Presidential Award for Lifetime Achievement in Herpetology, 2011
Reference: https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/statesman/name/andrew-price-obituary?id=21662157
Rosen, Philip (Phil) Clark
b. February 25, 1955 New York City
d. September 18, 2020 Tucson, Arizona
Ecologist of the Sonoran Desert
Reference: In Memoriam Dr. Philip C. Rosen (1955-2020). Revista Mexicana de Biodiversidad, 2021, 92:e923850.
Schwalbe, Cecil Robert
b. April 2, 1942 Lubbock Texas
d. April 3, 2022 Tucson, Arizona
Research Ecologist, U.S. Geological Survey, Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit, University of Arizona
Reference: https://journalism.arizona.edu/news/dr-cecil-schwalbe-noted-scientist-and-school-journalism-friend-dies-80
Wells, Kentwood David
b. March 23, 1948 Alexandria, Virginia
d. May 23, 2024 Storrs, Connecticut
Professor of Biology, University of Connecticut
Reference: https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/kentwood-wells-obituary?id=55185490