Mei-Ling Hsu

Mei-Ling Hsu, retired Professor of Geography, University of Minnesota, passed away in late May of 2009. Born in 1932, Hsu received her B.A. from Taiwan Normal University (1954), M.A. from Southern Illinois University (1956), and M.A. (1959) and PhD (1966) from the University of Wisconsin. Hsu was a highly-respected scholar in the areas of cartographic symbolization, Chinese cartography, and map projections, with additional specialties in population geography and East Asian studies. Her publications include (with Arthur H. Robinson), The Fidelity of Isopleth Maps: an Experimental Study (University of Minnesota Press, 1970); a detailed map with extensive notes on population growth and urbanization, “Taiwan Population Distribution, 1965,” Map Supplement No. 11 in the Annals of the AAG, 59: 3 (1969); and cartographic design for a number of influential college texts. Hsu joined the University of Minnesota’s Department of Geography in 1965, where she later served as Chair from 1994 to 1997. She was also the first Director of the university’s China Center and was instrumental in building the cartography and GIS programs in the Department of Geography.

Mei-Ling Hsu (Necrology). 2009. AAG Newsletter 44(8):21.

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Julie A. Graham

Julie Graham, 64, a professor and specialist in economic and regional geography in the Department of Geosciences at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, died April 4 in Nashville from complications deriving from cancer as she was returning from a three-month research sabbatical in Australia. Born in 1945, Graham graduated with a B.A. in English from Smith College in 1968, and completed her PhD degree at Clark University in 1984. Her specialties included rethinking economy and economic dynamics; diverse economies and community economies; alternative economic development practice in the U.S., Australia and the Asia Pacific region; and economic subjectivity and politics. Early in her career, Graham was steeped in structural critiques of capitalist exploitation, but over time she came to feel that this critique could be disempowering. Graham’s scholarship overlapped with that of Australian colleague Katherine Gibson, so much so that they began to publish under the pen name J.K. Gibson- Graham. Together they developed what they came to call a “post-capitalist politics.” J.K. Gibson-Graham’s The End of Capitalism (as we knew it): A feminist critique of political economy was named a “Classic in Human Geography” by the journal Progress in Human Geography. Graham became an Associate Professor in 1991, a Full Professor in 1998, and served as Associate Department Head for Geography at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst between 1999 and 2006. With broad interests informed by her economic perspective, she served on many committees for students in Economics, Women’s Studies, Labor Studies, Education, Political Science, and Anthropology. Graham worked closely for many years with professors Stephen Resnick and Richard Wolff in the UMass Economics department and published with them two volumes of edited essays in Marxist theory.

Julie A. Graham (Necrology). 2010. AAG Newsletter 45(10): 22.

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Henry L. Hunker

Henry Louis Hunker, Professor Emeritus at Ohio State University, died on April 10, 2009. Hunker began his long association with Ohio State University in 1949. He completed a PhD there in 1953, was appointed Professor of Geography, and later served as Professor in the School of Public Administration. He retired in 1994 following 41 years of service. In 1957, Hunker was Fulbright Lecturer at the University of Queensland, Australia, and in 1972-1973 was a battelle Memorial Institute Fellow. He served in various administrative positions at Ohio State, including Assistant Dean of the College of Commerce and business Administration 1966-68; Director, Center for Community and Regional Analysis 1968-1970; Associate Dean of the College of business 1989-90; and Director of the Ohio State Summer Program at Oxford University in England 1983-1985. Hunker’s work in economic geography appeared in many professional and popular journals. He authored several books, including Industrial Development, Concepts and Principles (1974), and Columbus: A Personal Geography (2000). His courses attracted future business leaders in Columbus and Central Ohio. Hunker also served his profession as editor of The East Lakes Geographer from 1963-72.

Henry L. Hunker (Necrology). 2009. AAG Newsletter 44(7): 19.

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Gary Gaile

Gary Gaile, professor of geography at the University of Colorado at Boulder, died on February 13, 2009 at the age of 63. He first came to the school as a visiting faculty member in 1984. Gaile served as Chair of the department from 1999 to 2002. In 2001, he founded the Developing Areas Research and Teaching (DART) program, and remained the program’s executive director until his death.

Gaile earned all of his degrees in the geography department at UCLA (BA 1971, MA 1972, PhD 1976) and remained a steadfast supporter of his alma mater throughout his career. His PhD advisor was W.A.C. Clark, and his dissertation won the Regional Science Association’s Doctoral Dissertation Award in 1977.

Gaile taught geography at Northwestern University from 1975 to 1982. The demise of that department influenced him greatly and contributed to his commitment to the institutional success of geography as a discipline and to his enthusiastic support for the AAG. After leaving Northwestern, Gaile spent two years at the University of Connecticut in Storrs. He also held visiting appointments at Harvard Institute for International Development, Cambridge University, the London School of Economics, and Oxford University.

Gaile’s early career focused on the modeling and analysis of spatial patterns of economic growth and development. In 1984, he published Spatial Statistics and Models with long-time collaborator Cort Willmott. This was followed in 1988 by a handbook, Spatial Diffusion, written with Richard Morrill and Grant Thrall. His research was widely published in many well-known academic journals.

Since 2001, Gaile had served as editor of Urban Affairs Review. He and Willmott continued their collaboration with the publication in 1989 of Geography in America. A revised and expanded edition published in 2003, Geography in America at the Dawn of the 21st Century, has become recognized as the definitive text on the state of the art in research across the vast array of geographic subfields. These books are perhaps Gaile’s most significant contribution to the discipline and reflect his wellknown dedication to the advancement of all fields within geography.

Gaile had a long history of fieldwork in East Africa, particularly Kenya, where he was deeply involved in poverty reduction and food security projects. Blessed with an irreverent wit and an engaging personality, Gaile was known for bringing humor and humanity to all of his undertakings. A dedicated teacher, he won the Distinguished Teaching Award at Northwestern University in 1981, and his courses at Colorado were always among the most highly rated at the University.

Gary Gaile (Necrology). 2009. AAG Newsletter 44(4): 16.

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Gail Hobbs

Gail Hobbs passed away on February 8, 2009. A well-known advocate of geography education, she was a member of the National Council for Geographic Education (NCGE) for over 20 years and served as its President in 1999. Hobbs was born in Chicago but grew up in North Hollywood, California, and both areas played significant roles in her professional life. She earned a B.A. in education from Concordia Teachers College in River Forest, Illinois and a master’s degree in geography from UCLA. Concordia later presented Hobbs with an honorary doctorate.

Hobbs served as Professor of Geography Department of Anthropological and Geographical Sciences at Pierce College in Los Angeles, where she taught a wide range of courses. Over her 22-year career she played an instrumental role in strengthening geography at Pierce College by developing a GIS laboratory, classrooms and related coursework and by forming strong bonds with students.

In addition to her association with NCGE, Hobbs was a longtime member of the AAG, the California Geographical Society, the Los Angeles Geographical Society, and the Society of Women Geographers. A skilled organizer, she served as co-coordinator of the Southern California Geographic Alliance from 1987 to 1997.

Gail Hobbs (Necrology). 2009. AAG Newsletter 44(5): 14.

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George Anglade

George Anglade, distinguished Haitian- Canadian geographer, political activist and author, died on January 12 as a result of injuries sustained during the Haitian earthquake. His wife of 43 years, Mireille Neptune, a vocal feminist, French teacher, and United Nations diplomat, also perished in the disaster. Anglade was born on July 18, 1944. Upon completing degrees in his hometown of Portau- Prince at the École Normale Supérieure and the Faculty of Law, he went on to obtain his PhD at the Center for Applied Geography in Strasbourg, France, in 1965. Anglade subsequently became a professor of social geography at l’Université du Québec à Montreal (UQAM). He retired from that university in 2002. A renowned political activist, Anglade was twice imprisoned and exiled from Haiti under its former dictatorship, but that did not prevent him from maintaining strong ties with his homeland. He not only helped to lead Haiti’s democracy movement but also served as the Minister of Public Works in the Aristide government. He was an advisor to current president René Preval. Anglade liked to define himself as “a man in three pieces” – geographer, politician and writer. As an engaged political writer, he authored more than 30 books (both fiction and non-fiction) in which Haiti occupies a central place. As a writer of short stories, Anglade was known for explosive, comic fiction. He influenced the evolution of modern Haiti and was one of the leading writers produced by the close relationship between Haiti and Canada.

George Anglade (Necrology). 2009. AAG Newsletter 45(2): 12.

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Peter Burrough

Peter Alan burrough, an innovator in GIS research, died earlier this year in Leiden, The Netherlands. Burrough received his bSc (First Class Honors) in chemistry from the University of Sussex, brighton in 1965, and his doctorate from the University of Oxford in 1969. In 1973, he went to Sydney, Australia to become Lecturer in Soil Science at the University of New South Wales. Burrough moved to The Netherlands in 1976, where he was based for nearly three decades. He first worked in Wageningen as a Senior Research Scientist at STIbOKA (the Dutch Soil Survey) from 1976 to 1980. He later moved to Wageningen Agricultural University, where he became Senior Lecturer in Spatial Analysis and Soil Science. Burrough was appointed Professor of Physical Geography and Geographical Information Systems at the Geographical Institute of Utrecht University in 1984. Research activities in physical geography at Utrecht University before that time had mainly focused on geomorphology. Under Burrough’s leadership, GIS, geostatistics, environmental modeling, and remote sensing were introduced to both the teaching curriculum and the research agenda of the department. Between 1984 and 1994, he was the initiator and chairman of two major five-year research programs: Landscape, Environment, and Land Use (LAMIRU) from 1984 to 1988, and Geographical Information Systems and Landscape Analysis (GISLA) from 1988 to 1993. Burrough is recognized for a seminal work in GIS, Principles of Geographical Information Systems. Published in 1986 by theClarendon Press, the book became an instrumental resource for soil scientists as well as geographers, surveyors, social scientists, urban planners and students in these fields. The book promoted interest in the newly developing GIS field. Peter A. Burrough (Necrology). 2009. AAG Newsletter 44(7): 19.

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Samuel Attoh

Samuel Stephen Nii Kojo Armah Aryeetey-Attoh was born June 26, 1956, in Accra, Ghana. He was the last born and only son to Samuel Attoh and Cecilia Taiwo Attoh.

Samuel received his BA with Honors from the University of Ghana, his Masters from Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada, and his Ph.D. from Boston University, Massachusetts.

Dr. Attoh began his academic career at the University of Toledo, where he was a Geography Professor from 1987 to 2005. During this time, he also served as Chairman of Geography and Planning department from 1996 to 2003. He served as a Fellow of the American Council on Education and Administrative Placement Intern Mentor at Carnegie Mellon University, Pennsylvania, from 2003-2004.

In June 2005, Dr. Attoh became the Dean of the Graduate School for Loyola University Chicago and later added Associate Provost for Research and Centers to his title. In July of 2015, Dr. Attoh became the Interim Provost for Loyola University Chicago.

Dr. Attoh has served on the Doctoral Dissertation and Research Improvement Review Panel of the National Science Foundation, the Executive Committee of the Association of American Geographers, and was the former President of the Illinois Association of Graduate Schools. He was also a member of the Council of Graduate Schools Advisory Committee on Minorities in Graduate Education, the World Education Services Graduate Advisory Board, and the Board of the Diversifying Higher Education Faculty in Illinois Program.

Dr. Attoh was author of the book Geography of Sub-Saharan Africa (Prentice Hall, 2009) and contributed chapters in Global Change in Local Places (University of Cambridge Press, 2004), World Regional Geography (Prentice Hall) and the Columbia Gazetteer (Columbia University Press), he also published more than 30 journal articles and technical reports and presented more than 40 papers at national and international conferences.

Through his hard work, Dr. Attoh received recognition and honors, including ETS/MAGS Award to Graduate School for Excellence and Innovation in Graduate Education, Outstanding Professional Staff Award from LUC Office of Student Diversity and Multicultural Affairs. Social Justice Award from the LUC Graduate Students of Color, Association of American Geographers Service Recognition, Key to the Community Award from the Ottawa Community Development Corporation, University of Toledo College of Arts and Science Dean’s Merit Award and Master Teacher Award, Outstanding Contribution to the African People’s Association from Bowling Green State University, Outstanding UUP-sponsored Urban Research Projects from Ohio Urban University Program, American Biographical Institute Board of Advisors, and has been featured in Who’s Who in America, Midwest, and World.

Samuel “Paa-Nii” was a devoted husband and father who worked tirelessly for his family and dedicated his life to being a provider. He was a devout Catholic, which showed through his integrity and kindness. His favorite prayers were the Sacred Heart Morning Prayer and Thanksgiving Psalm. Samuel also loved to travel, visiting countries such as London, El Salvador, and Brazil, enjoying many road trips with his family, driving while explaining the geography, or catching shows and hitting in the slots in Vegas with his wife (often hitting the jackpot)!

Samuel passed away, peacefully, at home, on Monday, February 6, 2017. He leaves, to cherish his memory, a dedicated wife of 36 years, Antoinette, dear children, Annette, Annabelle (cherished son-in-law Ian), Stefan, and Sasha. His two beloved grandsons: Jersey and Aidan. His walking buddy and dog, Shika. Four sisters: Sylvia, Patricia, Susan, and Tina. Father-in-law, Gilbert Alipui Sr. Preceded in death by his eldest sister, Naa-Dedei, he became like a second dad to her children, Leonne, Laurie Ann, and Leroy. Samuel also leaves behind a number of other nieces, nephews, cousins, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, family, and friends. He will be sorely missed.

Originally published in the Bolingbrook-McCauley Funeral Chapel.

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Mary Meader

Mary Meader, a well-known pioneer of aerial photography, died recently in Kalamazoo, Michigan at the age of 91. Born Mary Rachel Upjohn in April of 1916, she dropped out of Smith College in 1935 to marry the aviator Richard Light and partner with him on an unprecedented 35,000 mile journey across the Southern hemisphere. She took flying lessons, learned Morse code, and became her husband’s navigator, radio operator, and sometimes emergency co-pilot, but her primary mission was to capture the first aerial photographs of various remote or little-known places of the Earth. Mary and Richard Light would often risk their lives in a small Bellanca monoplane lacking heat and pressurization in an effort to capture photographs from the sky. The effort took ingenuity as well as daring, and Mary Meader has often been credited with creativity and invention in certain technical aspects of her photographic work.

The 95-pound Meader built a sling from canvas and clothesline to hold her heavy Fairchild F8 camera in place as she took photographs out of an open window, often from heights exceeding 10,000 feet and in freezing temperatures. In this way, the couple made the first aerial photographs of the Nazca lines in Peru, and they were the first to capture the stunning crater at the top of Mount Kilamanjaro on film as well as the peak of Mount Stanley. They later captured many of the Pyramids of Egypt from an aerial perspective as well as surrounding settlements and urban areas. The journey was supported by the American Geographical Society. In 1941, their book, Focus on Africa, written by Richard and illustrated with Mary’s photographs, was published, causing a sensation. Mary Meader’s photographs have appeared in various exhibitions throughout the years, including at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Air and Space Museum.

Mary and Richard Light divorced in 1961. She later married Edwin Meader, a professor of geography. She was one of 11 grandchildren of Dr. W.E. Upjohn, founder of the Upjohn Company, one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical concerns. Mary and Edwin Meader became well-known philanthropists who gave generously to education and the arts. In 2006, Mary Meader was asked to sign the Explorer’s Globe at Western Michigan University in a special ceremony. The Globe includes the signatures of Amelia Earhart, Charles Lindbergh, Neil Armstrong, Sir Edmund Hillary, and John Glenn, among others.

Mary Meader (Necrology). 2008. AAG Newsletter 43(5): 16.

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Dan Irwin

Dan Irwin, emeritus professor of geography at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, passed away recently. Irwin first came to SIUC in 1959 as Director of the Cartographic Lab. He earned a masters degree there while working as the Cartographer for the Mississippi River Valley Studies Program. Irwin later earned a PhD at Syracuse University. He then took a faculty position on the Geography Department at SIUC, where he worked for many years, after the MRVS program was phased out. In addition to publishing in scholarly journals, Irwin co-authored Exploring the Land and Rocks of Southern Illinois, with Stanley E. Harris, Jr. and C. William Horrell. Before his retirement in 1991, Irwin started work on an historical novel about the contributions of topographers and mapmakers in delineating the terrain of the West during the first half of the nineteenth century. To Walk Upon High Places was published in 2005.

Dan Irwin (Necrology).2008. AAG Newsletter 43(2): 19.

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