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Doug was born in Denver, Colorado. He obtained a Ph.D in Zoology in 1990 from Oklahoma State University. Doug was a highly respected toxicologist and was sought after for his expertise nationally and abroad. Doug and his wife Deanne formed Fort Environmental Laboratories, Inc. (FEL) in January 2000. FEL has played a critical role in the development and validation of numerous toxicity test methods especially for amphibians and reptiles. Doug was a long-time member and strong supporter of SETAC. He presented at numerous conferences, published prolifically in the SETAC journals, and served for years on SETAC governance. He was honored as a SETAC fellow in 2020. Doug’s dedication far exceeded his work in the lab. He enjoyed tennis, pickleball, golf and the OSU Cowboys. Doug was immensely proud of his children Chelsea Elyse, Hayley Mae and Troy Douglas. His greatest joy and passion was his family, especially his granddaughters Olivia and Everly.

Don Mackay was a strong supporter of SETAC. For years, the Mackays attended SETAC North America annual meetings, where Don participated in the scientific program and Ness participated in the guest programs, and both enjoyed the company of fellow SETACers at various social functions and gatherings. Don Mackay was an accomplished organic chemist and published heavily in SETAC journals. Towards the end of his career, he was Director Emeritus of the Canadian Centre for Environmental Modelling and Chemistry and Professor Emeritus at both Trent University and the University of Toronto. For his engagement with the society, he won the SETAC Founders Award in 1990 and the SETAC Fellow award in 2014. In 2021, the couple officially retired in Trent, Canada. They wished to honor their retirement by supporting SETAC North America in perpetuity and thus decided to fund a named bequeath within the Endowment Fund. The Don Mackay Endowment supports the work of SETAC North America. Don passed away in October 2023.

Read about Don Mackay's "Personal Odyssey."

Sonny Mayer spent more than 35 years of his career in government service, first with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service then with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. After leaving government service in 2004, he spent years as a consultant. He is an expert in the field of environmental toxicology. His research included laboratory and field studies in both freshwater and marine environments, with emphasis on comparative chemical toxicity, factors affecting toxicity, fish health indicators, predictive toxicological models and environmental risk assessment as well as comparative toxicology among endangered and non-endangered species. He was also research associate/adjunct professor and served on graduate committees at the Universities of Missouri, North Texas, West Florida and Utah State. Mayer received many awards for outstanding performance in research, research administration and technical assistance, including a bronze medal for promotion of women and minorities in environmental sciences and a gold medal and the USEPA James Ackerman Award for ecological risk assessment. He was an active member of SETAC and was recognized for exceptional service to the Society. 

Herb was a true pioneer in the fields of environmental chemistry, engineering and wastewater science. He passed away peacefully at the age of 90 in December 2023 at his home in Houston, Texas. Herb served on active duty in the U.S. Air Force from 1960 to 1963 and in the U.S. Air Force Reserve from 1955 to 1968. His nearly 50-year academic career at Rice University began in 1966 where he was a research scientist, physiologist and director of biogenerative life support systems research at the Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine. He received several notable awards and recognitions for his contributions to the field of engineering and science from government agencies and professional associations. SETAC was Herb’s chosen home professional society. He was one of the original six founders of SETAC and served on its first Board of Directors. For 30 years, Herb served as the Editor-in-Chief of the Society's journal, Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, which he started. His high standards for research and work reflected the SETAC motto that he helped to establish – "Environmental Quality Through Science®." Herb was recognized as a SETAC Founder and Fellow. Herb was so committed to SETAC that the society’s Exceptional Service Award was created in his honor. He strongly supported the Endowment Fund most notably with the Herb Ward Challenge in 2020. His legacy and achievements will guide SETAC and the field of environmental science and engineering for many years to come.

Learn more about Herb Ward.

Gene Mancini was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey. His terminal degree was Ph.D. from the University of Louisville (1978). He specialized in remediation of oil spills and hazardous material incidents, performing numerous ecological and natural resource damage assessments. Mancini was a person that eagerly gave of his time to SETAC throughout his professional career and for that he received numerous awards and distinctions from the Society. Mancini was most noted at SETAC for his leadership in the development of the SETAC North America Endowment Fund. He volunteered selflessly outside of SETAC as well. He was a dedicated volunteer and wonderful mentor, and he often reminded his friends and colleagues to “always give back more than you take.” Mancini played the saxophone, acoustic guitar and sang. He also loved watching soccer, riding motorcycles, morning swims and spending time with his family, friends and his grandson. He was survived by his wife of 47 years, Ruth Anne, and their son and daughter and their families. 

Read the "In Memoriam: Eugene Ralph “Gene” Mancini."

Peter Chapman was born in 1951 in Hull, England, and spent a large portion of his childhood in Cuba, the Philippines and South Florida, USA. Chapman earned his Ph.D. in 1979 in benthic ecology with an emphasis on ecotoxicology and risk assessment at the University of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. He made British Columbia his home for the rest of his life. Chapman spent his life in the pursuit of scientific investigation. He was a productive researcher and consultant, a prolific author and editor, an eloquent speaker, and he was also known to enjoy mentoring young scientists. Chapman is recognized as an expert and leader in the field of ecological risk assessment and benthic ecology. He pioneered the “Sediment Quality Triad” with Ed Long as an approach for the evaluation of sediment quality. Later, he was a powerful advocate for expanding the triad approach using weight of evidence. For his contributions to environmental science and to SETAC, he received the SETAC Founders Award in 2001 and was named a SETAC Fellow in 2013. Chapman was a devoted husband and father. In between his many work travels and engagements, he was a swim team race timer, a downhill ski race official and an editor of several of his children’s sports team newsletters. He left behind his wife, Lori, and three children, Jennifer, Michael and Stefanie. The Peter Chapman Endowment supports the work of SETAC North America especially in areas of advancing sediment risk assessment.

Read Peter Chapman's "In Memoriam."

Steve Klaine got his Ph.D in environmental science from Rice University in 1982. He had a stint as an assistant professor at the university of Memphis, and from there, he went to be Director of the Clemson University Institute of Environmental Toxicology. He was an internationally recognized environmental toxicologist with a legacy of devotion to teaching and mentoring. During his career, Klaine contributed to the development of 40 doctoral students and 45 master’s degree students. He was a contributor and editor to SETAC journals, was named a SETAC Fellow in 2016. He holds the distinction of having the highest cited paper ever appearing in a SETAC journal for his landmark critical review on nano materials in the environment. Among his varied research interests, he advanced our understanding of metal bioavailability, the effects of pharmaceutical substances on aquatic wildlife, and the significance of non-point source chemical toxicity and sediment contamination. The Steve Klaine Endowment supports the work of SETAC North America especially in areas of recognizing an individual, group or organization for significant contributions to environmental education.

Read "In Recognition of a Distinguished Career: Steve Klaine."

Melissa Schultz was a brilliant student receiving her B.S. in chemistry from Creighton University in 1999 and her Ph.D. in analytical chemistry at Oregon State University in 2004. Schultz’s contribution to advancing environmental chemistry were sadly cut short though her impact is still felt. At Oregon State University, she studied the role of wastewater treatment on poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs). Later, as a National Academy of Sciences postdoctoral associate at the USGS National Water Quality Laboratory, she investigated pharmaceuticals in wastewater. Her research interests then expanded during her tenure as Associate Professor of Chemistry at the College of Wooster in Ohio. There, Schultz was known to care deeply about her students, and her egalitarian approach to education had a lasting effect upon their lives and careers. She set an example for her students by including her young children in her college activities. Schultz had a knack for bringing people together both inside and outside of the laboratory, and she was frequently the driving force behind activities and events that fostered community. Schultz excelled in many roles in her life. She was an avid runner, reader and nature enthusiast, but her greatest joy was her family. She was a supportive and loving spouse to her husband Brett and a devoted mother to Lila, Teddy and Leo. The Melissa Schultz Endowment annually supports the SETAC North America Student Meeting Attendance Grant of the highest ranked female undergraduate student. 

Read Melissa Schultz’s "In Memoriam."

Eugene Kenaga was born and raised in Midland, Michigan. He obtained his undergraduate degree in zoology and entomology at the nearby University of Michigan and followed it with a master’s degree in entomology at the University of Kansas. Eugene was a true naturalist, traveling all seven continents, mostly in pursuit of birds and being actively involved with many clubs and organizations promoting the environment. For much of his career, he worked at Dow Chemical Company in his hometown of Midland. While at Dow, he recognized the potential toxicity of pesticide to birds. He collaborated with Lucille Stickel of the U.S. Department of Interior’s ornithology and mammalian research station at Patuxent, Maryland, Ralph McMullen of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to solicit Robert Ringer, then at Michigan State University, to oversee their proposal for what became a landmark toxicity test of birds under the auspices of a cooperative agreement between USDI-Patuxent and the Agricultural Chemicals Association (ACA). By 1978, Kenaga and others were discussing the need for a society devoted to environmental toxicology. The group founded SETAC in 1979 and in 1980, Kenaga was elected SETAC’s first official president. In Kenaga’s words: “the reason the Society was formed, first and foremost, was that there was a real need for a multidisciplinary organization,” Kenaga said. Kenaga had a definite focus when he was serving as the Society’s first president. “We had a mission,” he said, “and our mission was to evaluate scientific decision-making with a multidisciplinary approach; and it took so many different sciences to do that.” Kenga’s love for the environment also prompted him to establish the Chippewa Nature Center. Kanaga passed away at the age of 90. He was survived by his wife Kathleen (Kay) and three children, Dennis, Marcia and David; and six grandchildren. 

Jeff Black was an active member of SETAC and dedicated environmnetal engineer. He was director of aquatic toxicology at EA Laboratories in Sparks, Maryland, untill his passing. He was survived by his parents Arthur and Virginia Black, brother Curtis Black and his wife Marilyn. For over twenty years, his employer – what is now EA Engineering, Science, and Technology, Inc. – honored Black’s memory by providing a fellowship to a SETAC master’s student.