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In Memory of Donald R. Heinle (1937-2001)

Dr. Donald R. Heinle, a renowned zooplankton expert and estuarine/marine ecologist, passed away on January 17th. Don received his BS degree from the University of Washington in 1959 and spent time in Alaska working on salmon stocks. Following two years of service in the Army, Don earned an MS (1965) and a PhD (1969) in Zoology from the University of Maryland. He maintained professional affiliations with the Pacific Estuarine Research Society, ERF, and the American Society of Limnology and Oceanography, and was a longtime member of AERS. He was a member of the ERF Governing Board, serving as Secretary from 1993-1995.

Don started his professional career at the Chesapeake Biological Laboratory of the University of Maryland. His early work focused on zooplankton dynamics in the Patuxent River, relating to thermal effects including entrainment studies, the effects of petroleum hydrocarbons on the physiology, feeding behavior, and population dynamics of copepods, the biotoxicity of chlorine, and the role of zooplankton in estuarine food chains.
Don was a pioneer in looking at the role of nitrogen in estuaries. In the early 70's along with colleagues at CBL, Don asked fundamental questions about nitrogen's role in estuarine ecosystems; these questions continue to be investigated today.

Tom Horton of the Baltimore Sun wrote a 1992 article about Don's role in protecting the Patuxent River. Don remembered a 3 am call from Pete Wagner, the CBL director. Pete had just received a blistering 2 am call from a high-ranking state official who wanted Don either controlled or fired because of his opposition to a proposed plan for expanding sewage discharge into the Patuxent River - a plan that neglected to remove nitrogen from the effluent. These increased nitrogen inputs would have killed the Patuxent. Through the efforts of Bernie Fowler, a Calvert County Commissioner, the lower counties along the Patuxent sued to overturn the plan, and a federal judge ordered a new plan be developed to take nitrogen inputs into account. Don and colleagues had persevered in face of incredible pressure from development interests in the upper Patuxent basin. Maryland Governor Harry Hughes acknowledged the nutrient problem and said that the Patuxent must be saved - a living legacy to Don's professional efforts.

In 1980 Don joined CH2M HILL in Seattle where he was the Principal Scientist and Senior Risk Assessor. Don worked on many topics including remedial investigations, risk assessments and feasibility studies for hazardous waste sites, and provided expertise in estuarine, marine and freshwater ecology, toxicology, fisheries biology, and wetland ecology. Don worked all over the US and in Australia and Taiwan. He had over 30 publications in refereed journals and books, and several hundred technical reports.

Don's many friends and colleagues are saddened by his untimely death. He was a mentor to many, and if you had a problem he was always there to listen. Don had a deep love for the outdoors, enjoying hunting and fishing, bird watching, and rock hunting. He was also an artist and an ardent Redskin fan.

Jim Mavis of CH2M HILL recounted "Don cast a big shadow, even larger in his strength of character and understated self-reliance than his formidable professional life, if that is possible. His death leaves an enormous void." Jan Newton, President of PERS said "We will truly miss Don's warm and supportive presence at our meetings. I particularly recall his interactions with the undergraduate students, asking questions and giving insight, just at the last PERS meeting in Sidney, B.C. in 2000."

Don is survived by his wife Jean, his mother, two children, three stepchildren, and three grandchildren. The family has asked that any remembrances be made to one of the following organizations: Planned Parenthood of King Co., 1420 156th NE, Bellevue, WA 98007; United Way of King County,13010 NE 20th, Suite B, Bellevue, WA 98005-2034 or the Coalition for Charitable Choice, 1122 East Pike Street, #1057, Seattle, WA 98122-3934.