MAURICE J. TAUBER

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MAURICE J. TAUBER Maurice J. Tauber, former Winnipeg resident and Professor Emeritus at Cornell University, died on October 6, 2014, at the age of 82. Son of Samuel and Gertrude Tauber, Maurice grew up in Winnipeg (Laura Secord School and St. John's High, where he played on the Senior Basketball team). He earned B.S. and M.Sc. degrees in Entomology from the University of Manitoba (Senior Class President, Ag School, 1958). He then pursued graduate work at the University of California, Berkeley, where he received a Ph.D. in 1966. In the same year, he married Catherine (Kady) Toschi, who was also a graduate student in entomology at Berkeley. Their research collaboration, which began several years before their marriage, lasted for more than 50 years. Maurice was a faculty member at Cornell from 1966 to 2000. He taught undergraduate and graduate courses in entomology, and served as Chair of the Department of Entomology from 1981 to 1986. His research focused on insect behavior and the biological control of insect pests, with emphasis on experimental studies of insect seasonal cycles. He wrote approximately 200 papers, many with his students and his wife, including articles that were published in Nature, Science, and Annual Reviews. He also wrote numerous book chapters and a textbook, Seasonal Adaptations of Insects (1986, co-authored with his wife and Dr. Sinzo Masaki of Japan). The book continues to serve as a stimulus and resource for research on many aspects of insect seasonal cycles. After retiring from Cornell in 2000, Maurice and Kady moved to California where they maintained their scientific activity in association with the University of California at Davis. They conducted field studies and research with collaborators in Argentina, Brazil, several Central American countries, Mexico, and Canada. In addition, Dr. Tauber continued to advise graduate and undergraduate students in an informal capacity. He had two papers in press, and was working on several manuscripts in the weeks before his passing. Maurice was a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the Entomological Society of Canada, and the California Academy of Sciences. He served on the Governing Board and several editorial boards of the Entomological Society of America. For more than twenty years he was active on the editorial board of the European Journal of Entomology. He was also a Research Associate of the B. P. Bishop Museum in Honolulu, and a member of many scientific societies. Among students, colleagues, and family, Maurice was known for his dedication to education; his broad perspective and high standards in scientific work and other activities; his enthusiastic mentoring and support of students and young faculty; and his keen sense of humor. Maurice is survived by his wife, his son Paul (spouse Mary), son Michael, daughter Agatha, and three grandchildren -- Richard, Lesley and Julia. At Maurice's request there was no memorial service. The family suggests that any donations be made to the University of Manitoba Library.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Oct 24, 2014