In Memoriam: Charles M. Weise, 1926-1997

Charles M. Weise, a member of the AOU since 1948 and an Elective Member since 1984, was born in Bridgeville, Pennsylvania, 8 July 1926. He died in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 9 April 1997. Chuck's interest in the natural world was apparent in early childhood, and an intense interest in birds developed shortly before his twelfth birthday. Following military service, he attended Ohio University, receiving a B.S. in 1950. He obtained an M.S. in 1951 and a Ph.D. in 1956, both from the University of Illinois. A pioneering paper on Zugunruhe in caged migratory White-throated Sparrows under outdoor conditions was published in 1956 (Ecology 37:274-287). His early research dealt with two areas that were to be of lifelong interest: population ecology and migration physiology. In later years he concentrated on studies of population ecology, the most notable of which was a 26-year study of a color-banded population of Black-capped Chickadees. This work resulted in a number of jointly authored papers on social behavior, dispersal, and vocalizations. He was preparing additional chickadee papers for publication at the time of his death. Chuck also conducted long-term physiological and ecological studies of Dark-eyed Juncos. Chuck taught at Fisk University for three years before joining the faculty at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, where he taught from 1956 through 1995. He participated in the founding of the UWM Field Station, where he conducted most of his studies, and served as Chair of the Department of Biological Sciences for a number of years. His most outstanding contributions were in the teaching of ornithology. As a dedicated and highly accomplished field biologist, this quiet, serious man inspired many graduate and undergraduate students while working directly with them in the field. He will be greatly missed by all of us who had the good fortune to be associated with him. His wife, Joan, died in 1995. He is survived by five children and seven grandchildren.