Herbert "Herb" Caswell, former head of Eastern Michigan
University's Biology Department, died Jan. 30. He was 82.
A college undergraduate at the age of 16, he commuted
to Harvard University until World War II intervened. He
was a First Lt. in the U.S. Army from 1942-46, serving
in Korea.
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Caswell |
Caswell received his Ph.D. in zoology from Cornell University,
his master's degree in zoology from UCLA and his bachelor's
degree in physics from Harvard University.
He accepted a faculty position at EMU in 1955. He
introduced students to ornithology (study of birds), genetics
and ecology. Caswell participated in the original planning
for the introduction of audio tutorial instruction at EMU.
In 1964, he served as chair of the Faculty Council and
member of the University's Presidential Selection Committee.
In 1975, he became head of the biology department, where
he remained until his retirement in 1988. Upon retirement,
Caswell was granted professor emeritus status.
Howard Booth, an EMU professor of biology, recalled student
and colleague experiences involving Caswell.
When Booth was a sophomore at EMU, he was in Caswell's
genetics course. Due to a sports injury compounded by a
bout of mononucleosis, Booth said he missed several classes.
"The typically sort-of-gruff and all-business Dr. Caswell
sent my homework and lecture notes over to Snow Health
Center via one of my classmates so I didn't fall too far
behind," Booth
remembered.
As a colleague, Booth worked with Caswell to plan the
Mark Jefferson science building and recalled Caswell's
knowledge of architecture and engineering.
"His innovative ideas to combine research prep rooms adjacent
to teaching/research labs, and his arguing the need to
have some research capability in our offices, while now
outdated, were, at the time, a major turning point," Booth
said. "This new building was almost unique in providing
research space on a 'teacher training campus' and was the
first step in catalyzing a research surge, which has served
the biology faculty and students very well for many decades."
His hobbies included ornithology, nature photography,
painting, stamp collecting and reading American history.
When he retired, he studied the fall migration of hawks
in Pennsylvania.
Survivors include his wife, Ethel; five sons, Hal, Bill,
Edward, Tom and Mike Caswell; a daughter, Martha Rodon;
a brother, Parker Caswell; and 11 grandchildren.
A memorial service took place at Stark Funeral Home Feb.
3.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations
be made either to the National Audubon Society or the Nature
Conservancy.
Suzanne Moomey, a custodian in the physical plant from
1979-97, died Jan. 24. She was 75.
Funeral services took place Jan. 30 at Ypsilanti Church
of Christ, where Moomey was a member. Contributions may
be made to the church.
Survivors include her husband, Leonard; her mother, Irene
Fletcher of Kentucky; three sons, Steven of Ypsilanti,
Clint of Dundee and Wesley of Ypsilanti; three brothers,
Richard Fletcher of Florida, Earl Fletcher of Pinckney
and Wayne Fletcher of Grass Lake; five grandchildren, several
nieces and nephews, and great-nieces and nephews.
