Remembering Michael Whalen
We were all deeply saddened to learn of the sudden passing of Michael Whalen June 13. Whalen was a faculty member in the College of Natural Science and Mathematics Department of Geosciences and a member of the Tectonics & Sedimentation research group at the Geophysical Institute.
"Mike was an outstanding educator and scientist. He left us too soon and will be missed by all of us," said Bob McCoy, director of the Geophysical Institute.
Whalen joined the UAF faculty in 1995 as an assistant professor of geology, was tenured and promoted to associate professor in 2001, and achieved the rank of professor in 2013. He grew up in western Pennsylvania but has made Fairbanks his home since coming to UAF. He loved to take advantage of all Alaska has to offer and was an avid hiker, bicyclist and cross-country skier.
“Mike was a valued faculty member at UAF for nearly 30 years, and he will be greatly missed. Our condolences go to Mike’s family, friends and colleagues,” said CNSM Dean Karsten Hueffer.
As a researcher in the Geophysical Institute and a faculty member in CNSM in the Geosciences Department, his work helped provide insight into the pacing of events in Earth's history and led to better calibration of the geologic time scale. A particular focus of his research in recent years has been on the Chicxulub asteroid crater offshore of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. He delivered a presentation on campus about this work just last fall as part of the Earth System Science Seminar Series.
Whalen earned his Ph.D. at Syracuse University and was a post-doctoral researcher at the University of Miami's Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences before joining the faculty at UAF. He described himself as a carbonate sedimentologist and stratigrapher with interests in carbonate platform development and its relationship to paleoclimate and paleoceanography. He was also fascinated by mass extinctions and their causes, patterns and timing.
Whalen was also known for his longstanding Geology of Wine course, where he melded his interests in Earth science with wine tasting.
“With his patient and easygoing demeanor, he taught us how to analyze the multisensory experience of drinking wine. Leveraging his scientific expertise, he helped us appreciate vineyard soils and how eons of geological history help shape each sip,” said former GI staff member Fritz Freudenberger.
In addition to his research and instruction of UAF students, Whalen served on committees for several graduate students. He was also active for a number of years with the Fairbanks Folk School, where he served on the board of directors, most recently as vice president. His interest in education and the outdoors drew him to the Folk School where he worked to make a positive contribution.
Please join us for Mike's celebration of life, which will be in the form of an epic party beginning at 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19 at Ken Kunkel Community Center, 2645 Goldstream Road, Fairbanks. Please feel free to share the invitation with those who knew and loved our dear friend Mike. Download a flyer with information about this celebration