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Geoff Read via annelida%40net.bio.net (by Geoffrey.Read from niwa.co.nz)
Wed May 10 23:53:27 EST 2017


FYI

In his output, as well as significant deep-sea ecology papers, there was a nice paper with Mary: 
Wolff, Torben; Petersen, Mary E. 1991. A brief biography of A. S. Orsted, with notes on his travels in the West Indies and Central America and illustrations of collected polychaetes. In: Petersen, M.E.; Kirkegaard, J.B. (eds). Ophelia, Suppl. 5. Systematics, biology and morphology of world Polychaeta

=======================

TORBEN WOLFF  

IN MEMORIAM

21 July 1919 – 2 May 2017 

Dr. Torben Wolff, known all over the world as just Torben, nestor of oceanography and carcinology, friend, colleague, mentor for three generations of marine scientists, and promoter of science to the public at all levels, died in his sleep 2 May 2017 at the age of 97. Torben got his cand.mag. degree from the University of Copenhagen in 1947 and was awarded the Dr.phil. degree in 1963. His career at the Zoological Museum started in 1953. He was Associate Professor and Curator of Crustacea from 1962 until he retired in 1989, from 1966 as Head of Department of Marine Invertebrates, with a break in 1980-83 as Director of the Danish Aquarium.

Before his permanent attachment at the Zoological Museum Torben took part in three cruises that defined his life ever after: the ‘Atlantide’ expedition to West Africa 1945-46, The Danish Rennell Expedition 1951, and first and foremost as second in command on the ‘Galathea’ Expedition around the world 1950-52. Later, in 1962, he led the ‘Noona Dan’ expedition to the Bismarck–and Solomon Islands. After these experiences he was invited to participate in American, Russian and French deep-sea expeditions incl. a 4000 m deep dive with a French bathyscaph off Madeira in 1966.

Torben authored about 70 scientific papers (and many hundred short articles in ‘popular’ media on oceanography in the widest sense). He wrote several taxonomic studies in the now famous Galathea Report, but his tour-de-force was the monumental ‘The systematics and biology of bathyal and abyssal Isopoda Asellota’ Galathea Report 6: 1-320, from 1962, in which he introduced his views on the taxonomy of the group and summarised all available systematic and geographic knowledge, thus establishing a comprehensive new platform for the study of asellote Isopoda.

Torben would not have been the Torben we knew without engaging himself wholeheartedly in many international and national organizations, committees and policy fora in oceanography and nature conservation. In this, he followed in the footsteps of his own mentor and dear friend Professor Anton Bruun.

In November 2016 Torben, to his great pleasure, had an asteroid named after him as ‘Asteroid 6577 Torbenwolff’. 
Torben was the ultimate extrovert. He will long be remembered for his all-encompassing freely aired enthusiasm that inspired many who worked with him or met him at conferences and meetings and at social gatherings (who can forget his rendition of the Mauri war dance the Haka). 

Let our thoughts go to his wife Lisbeth who traveled with Torben all over the world and supported him (and not infrequently reined him in a bit!) throughout their 63 years together.

Funeral will  be Wednesday May 10 (at 12.00) in Gentofte Kirke.

Jørgen Olesen Ph.d. Curator of Crustacea and Jean Just dr. scient. (ret.)

Natural History Museum of Denmark (Zoological Museum)

------------
Jørgen Olesen, Ph.D. 
Curator, Associate Professor
Biosystematics
Natural History Museum of Denmark (Zoological Museum) University of Copenhagen Universitetsparken 15
DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø
Denmark 

Phone: +45 3532 1045
Mail: jolesen from snm.ku.dk
Web: www.snm.ku.dk/people/jolesen
Google scholar: http://scholar.google.dk/citations?user=-1MmkZQAAAAJ
ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Jorgen_Olesen/





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