Nearly $1.5 million in donations to UMMZ from Cohn bequest
A series of extremely generous donations from Dr. Theodore J. Cohn created the Theodore H. Hubbell Endowment for Systematic Research in Orthoptera Fund at the University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.
Cohn presented his first gift to establish the endowment in December 2009. The majority of funding was donated through Cohn's bequest since his death in November 2012. Cohn was an orthopteran (crickets and katydids) specialist and a long-term adjunct curator of insects in UMMZ. Cohn received his Ph.D. at U-M in 1961 and served on the faculty of San Diego State University from 1964 -1993, retiring as professor emeritus of biology.
“Theodore J. Cohn brought unparalleled dedication and unending enthusiasm to one of the primary loves of his life – Orthoptera!” said Professor Lacey Knowles. “Spanning decades of field collections, examination of specimens, and taxonomic study, Ted’s work has also produced many other intangibles – a collective of countless interactions with researchers, students, colleagues, orthopteran enthusiasts, and friends, where Ted has left an indelible mark. This legacy, where Ted’s incredibly positive outlook on life and his humor were forever present, will be carried on in all those who have had the opportunity to know Ted Cohn.
“For the next generation of students and researchers, Ted’s generous donation of the Hubbell Endowment provides an invaluable opportunity to continue the work that brought Ted to the museum every day – to study some of the most fascinating insects in the world – katydids, crickets and grasshoppers,” Knowles said.
“Ted Cohn was a devoted orthopteran systematist,” said the Professor Emeritus Gerald Smith. “He was an outstanding teacher at San Diego State University for about 40 years. For most of his career he spent summers in our Michigan museum insect collection, avidly studying our world-class collection of crickets. His guest lectures in our biodiversity classes became legendary. He was always a great friend and benefactor of our museum.”
Previously in EEB web news: In memoriam: Dr. Ted Cohn