C. Nicholas Raphael

C. Nicholas Raphael died of a heart attack February 21, 2004. He was born September 3, 1937 in Detroit, MI, the son of R. George and Angela Raphael. Nick graduated from the Upper Canada College Preparatory School in Toronto, Canada, earned his undergraduate degree from Wayne State University, his master’s from Eastern Michigan University (EMU), and his Ph.D. in coastal geomorphology from Louisiana State University (LSU). He received full support from the National Academy of Sciences for his doctoral research in Greece. After his fourteen months of field research he returned to LSU to complete his dissertation.

He joined the faculty at EMU in 1967, where he remained as a full professor in the department of geography and geology until his death. During his career Nick served as a guest professor at Monterrey Institute of Technology in Mexico, Coventry College of Education in England, the University of Riyadh in Saudi Arabia, the College of Education in Shanghai and Earth University in Costa Rica. He also served as consultant to the Environmental Research Institute of Michigan, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Army Corps of Engineers, and the Environmental Protection Agency. Nick was an active member of Gamma Theta Upsilon (GTU), the International Geographical Honor Society, and served as the national editor of the GTU Journal, and was also a member of the Association of American Geographers, Sigma Xi Scientific Research Society, the Michigan Academy of Science and the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi.

Memorial contributions in Nick’s memory may be made to the Hogar Rafael Orphanage in Guatemala. Checks may be written to St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, 3109 Scio Church Rd., Ann Arbor, Michigan 48103. Please state that the check is in memory of Nicholas Raphael.

C. Nicholas Raphael (Necrology). 2004. AAG Newsletter 39(5): 19.