In Memoriam

Announcement:

Richard “Dick” W. Birnie, 71, Professor Emeritus of Earth Sciences passed away Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016. Dick was a vital member of the department for many years.  He will be deeply missed by all who knew him. A memorial service for Dick will be held Saturday,  November  19, 2016 at 1 pm in the Rollins Chapel at Dartmouth College. Reception to follow at Top of Hop

Please enjoy a few comments from those who knew Dick.

We heard yesterday that Dick Birnie passed away. He was wonderful! –Madeleine Overman, President’s Office

He changed a lot of lives for the better. He taught us to be serious about the science without taking ourselves too seriously. He showed us how to be honorable scientists. These are lessons that never left me. -Jim Wells, '81

I fondly remember the geology classes he taught (mineralogy) and the Stretch with him and Dick Stoiber, Half Zantop, Gary Johnson, Chuck Drake and others.  I frequently recall the good old days at Dartmouth, and he were a big part of them. - Thomas Bell ’81

He was best of fun all the time.  He made geology a hoot for me. - Gregory J. Dozer ‘79

It was great seeing Dick at the last Rox Reunion! It was always wonderful to have his cheerful greeting when we returned to Hanover. We shared a great friendship with Dick and Eddie Stoiber and Dick Birnie carried on the great rapport – scientific and personal – that Dick Stoiber had with students (even me, who went so far astray from hard-core geology!) Thanks - that was a truly great part of the spirit that kept Dartmouth Earth Sciences majors so close through all these years! – Larry Dingman ‘60