Richard D. Taber

Richard D. Taber, for many years on the faculty of the University of Montana, passed away Sunday, Jan. 24, 2016, of causes incident to age. He was a Marine Corps veteran of World War II, retiring with the rank of major.

Born Nov. 22, 1920, in San Francisco to Louise Relief Everett and Loren Bennett Taber, Dick had one sibling, his older brother Robin. He was married first to Barbara Fleming, then to Patricia Restine Gannett, and is survived by his children, Becky of Oakland, California, Doug of Philadelphia and Kathy of Salisbury, North Carolina; stepchildren, Damon Gannett of Billings, Mark Gannett of Tacoma, Washington, Rebecca Gannett of Missoula and Robin Gannett of Seattle; and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Dick, who began his graduate studies with Aldo Leopold at the University of Wisconsin and finished his Ph.D. under the supervision of Starker Leopold at the University of California, Berkeley, was a pioneer in the field of wildlife biology. His former students have served around the United States, including Alaska and throughout the world.

Dick was well known in his retirement years for the many light-hearted but pointed letters to the editor that were published in the Missoulian. From 2002: "… we heard Ambassador McNamara on the mission of the new Department of Homeland Security in dealing with terrorism, defined as criminal activity for political ends. So I suppose, now, when a shady corporate executive cooks the books … and uses that money to buy political favors, Homeland Security will come down on him like a ton of bricks. Sounds like a great idea."

Dick’s life will be celebrated Saturday, July 9, at 11 a.m. at the University Congregational Church, 405 University Ave., Missoula. All are invited to attend.