In Memoriam

Sigrid J. Clift

October 30, 1949 – April 10, 2022

With great sadness we announce the loss of our colleague and friend Sigrid Clift. She grew up an only child in many places as her father was in the U.S. Air Force. Sigrid’s parents must have been kind and loving because everyone asked to share memories of her have used the words: sweet, warm, compassionate, patient, kind, lovely, optimistic, passionate, positive, smiling, one of the best… 

 After receiving her B.S. in Geology from UT Austin in 1989, Sigrid started work at the Bureau of Economic Geology in the Core Research Center. Dr. Stephen Laubach noticed how bright she was and recruited her to assist with research studies. From 1994 through 1999 Sigrid prolifically contributed to major oil- and gas-related reports and publications. She then served as the Bureau’s public information geologist from 1999 until initial retirement in 2013. During this time Sigrid also fulfilled many roles with the Austin Geological Society (taking attendance, helping with field trips, and much more); she also worked with GeoFORCE (https://www.jsg.utexas.edu/geoforce/). Sigrid was extremely dedicated to sharing geological knowledge and good at explaining complex topics in language non-geoscientists could understand. Doug Ratcliff described Sigrid’s GeoFORCE efforts:  

I was lucky to work with Sigrid for many years. She was always positive, smiling, and willing to do anything to help. That included taking on volunteer work with GeoFORCE, an outreach program I supervised. Sigrid helped write one of the guidebooks and participated in field trips every summer for more than five years. Each of those field trips included forty 10th grade students, and a week in the field during June and July every year. The weather was often beyond hot, and herding all those kids was exhausting. Sigrid was always on her game, and as a result, hundreds of young kids from small towns in south Texas and inner-city schools in Houston received a VIP tour of spectacular geologic settings with Sigrid as a fantastic guide. She was one of the best, and I will miss her.  

After a brief break, Sigrid returned to the Bureau to further assist (part-time) with geological publications focused on oil and gas reservoirs (2015, 2016, and 2018). Her supervisor, Bill Ambrose writes: 

Sigrid was the kindest, most gentle, and dedicated person I knew at the Bureau. She worked with Bob Loucks and me on the STARR project in 2019 and took care of a number of project tasks cheerfully and efficiently, always careful to ask questions and to follow up on every detail. Sigrid was a pleasure to work with and she will be greatly missed. 

Sigrid is survived by husband Bill, son Jim, daughter Brook, and granddaughter Imani. Her obituary may be found here: https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/austin-tx/sigrid-clift-10705515.  

James Word Sansom Jr.

Remembering Jim Sansom

by Peter R. Rose

            Jim Sansom, respected longtime member of the Austin Geological Society, died of Covid19 on February 27, 2021, at St. David’s Hospital in Austin, his wife of 60 years, Faye, and son Alan, at his side.

           Jim graduated from Austin High School in 1954, and enrolled at the University of Texas (Austin), majoring in Geology. He worked full-time and also served in the U. S. Army Reserve to support his college education, graduating in 1963 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology.

           His professional career began in 1962 with the Texas Highway Department. In 1965, he joined the Texas Department of Water Resources (now the Texas Water Development Board). In 1980 he joined the Texas Railroad Commission’s Surface Mining and Reclamation Division, where he worked until retirement in 1989. Jim worked afterward as an independent consulting geologist providing professional geological services to Austin engineers, City and State agencies, and private individuals.

One of the more memorable geological experiences of Jim’s career was the discovery of what became Inner Space Cavern in 1965, while he was supervising core-hole drilling in preparation for highway bridge construction on Interstate 35 in Georgetown.  Then a skinny young geologist, Jim Sansom rode the drill bit down through the narrow surface opening into the just-discovered, richly decorated cavern.  He never tired of describing that thrill of discovery, and remained connected with Inner Space Cavern thereafter.

           Jim was a founding member of the Austin Geological Society in 1964, serving as AGS’s first Secretary, and as Vice President the following year; he was AGS President in 1972, and was awarded Honorary Membership in 2007. Jim contributed to many of the Society’s annual field trips, and was a regular at most AGS functions until the Covid19 pandemic prevented monthly meetings in early 2020. He was also an active member of the American Institute of Professional Geologists, and the Association of Engineering Geologists. Jim was deeply involved in the long, but ultimately successful campaign for licensure of Texas Professional Geoscientists, for which he was honored by both AIPG and AEG in 1996.

After retirement, Jim Sansom became deeply involved in mentoring young people in Geoscience through his association with the UT Jackson School ‘s ongoing GeoForce summer outreach program, aimed primarily at minority high school students, which introduced them to the world of Science through geological field trips, travel, and classroom learning.

He was a founding member and unofficial Secretary of “The Lunchbunch,” an informal bimonthly luncheon group of Austin senior geoscientists formed about 2002; he was the third member to fall victim to Covid 19 in the year since the pandemic began in February, 2020.

Jim Sansom was highly respected as a willing and accessible resource on Central Texas geoscience; he knew personally most contributors to the area’s long and rich storehouse of geological knowledge since the 1950s. In addition, he was universally loved as a kind, knowledgeable, good-humored person who always saw the best in all his associates and colleagues.

He represented the epitome of good company; his many friends and associates will miss him deeply, while also honoring the rich gift of his life, knowledge, and admirable character.

 ___________________________________________________

https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/austin-tx/james-sansom-10077121

Donations may be sent online to www.operationlh.org or mailed to Operation Liberty Hill, Food Pantry, at PO Box 1081, Liberty Hill, Texas,78642, or to the charity of your choice.

Dennis Trombatore

With deepest grief I write to let you know that Dennis Trombatore, husband, friend, colleague, philosopher, artist, and lover of life, died peacefully Sat., July 18th, 2020 after a long illness.  

Dennis Trombatore was born on Aug. 26, 1952 in Killeen, Texas to Marianne Trombatore and Sam Trombatore, who were stationed at Ft. Hood.  He grew up in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where he attended St. Aloysius School and soon-to-be-renamed Lee High, graduating in 1970.  He went to LSU, graduating with a BA in Philosophy in 1975 and an MLS in 1977.  He lived in New Orleans and worked at Loyola Library from 1977 to 1980. In 1980 he married Kathryn Dinstuhl; they divorced in 1994. He moved to Athens, GA in 1980 to work in the Science Library of the University of Georgia. In 1985 he accepted the position of Head of the Walter Geology Library at the University of Texas Libraries in Austin, where he was honored to receive several staff excellence awards through the years.  He made Austin his happy home and worked tirelessly for his second family in the Jackson School of Geosciences until his death on June 18th, 2020 from complications of recurrent prostate cancer.  

Throughout his life, Dennis had a great love for geology and for handcrafts, particularly pottery, which he discovered in college.  He was never happier than when in the studio or on a field trip.  He belonged to the Austin Geological Society, the Geoscience Information Society, and the National Council of Educators in the Ceramic Arts for many years.  He was a stalwart contributor to the Austin Empty Bowl Project (well over two thousand of his bowls are in use around the city), and a life-long supporter of arts education and higher education. 

In 2004, after a long courtship that began with love at first sight, he married Shiela. Shiela was his beacon in a lonely world and his only regret was to leave her so soon.   Dennis was extraordinarily generous and an original polymath. He is loved and survived by his mother Marianne, his wife Shiela & her family, and friends too numerous to name.

Thanks to the staff and nurses at Austin Cancer Center, especially Dr. Shimkus, Dr. Stephen L. Brown, and Dr. Michael Trotter, Dr. Scott Moore, Dr. Marroquin for their care and support over many years.  Thanks also to Nurse Courtney McCoy and her team at the Journey of Life hospice center for their care and support in Dennis’s final days.  

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be directed to an excellence fund established in Dennis’s name: https://utdirect.utexas.edu/apps/utgiving/online/nlogon/?menu1=JS** earlier this year, or to the Penland School of Crafts in North Carolina: https://penland.org/support-penland/ways-to-give/ .  [Written (mostly) by Dennis, posted by Shiela]

__________________________________________________

 From Sharon Mosher (former Dean of Jackson School):

(http://www.jsg.utexas.edu/news/2020/07/remembering-dennis-trombatore/)

I am deeply saddened to let you know that our dear friend and colleague, Dennis Trombatore died at peace early Sat., June 18th after a long illness.

Dennis Trombatore was the Head Librarian for the Walter Geology Library and the Tobin International Map Collection at The University of Texas at Austin since 1985.  Dennis developed a world-class geosciences library that is renowned throughout the country and was widely respected by the geoscience and librarian community nationwide. He was an integral part of our college, providing a wealth of information, research, and instruction.  He was a fount of knowledge with a savvy perspective on our changing media landscape and the implications for the people who learn and do research here at the Jackson School and in the geosciences. He threaded his expertise and kindness throughout our entire school community.  He not only brought an immense knowledge, but he treated each and every person entering the library as a true guest and strove to have all exit with more knowledge than when they entered.

In 2018 he was awarded the Jackson School of Geosciences highest honor, the Joseph C. Walter Excellence Award, recognizing his demonstrated excellence in all of the areas of the School—research, teaching, service, professional activity, and administration. Nationally Dennis was honored by American Geosciences Institute (AGI) with the 2012 William B. Heroy Award for Distinguished Service. He was a long-time member and Chair of the GeoRef Advisory Committee and represented AGI on the GeoScienceWorld Publisher's Advisory Council, helping strengthen the relationship between the two organizations.  When we established GeoScienceWorld, Dennis’s advice and counsel was invaluable.

He received many other awards over the years, including the Department of Geological Sciences Distinguished Service Award in 1997, University of Texas Staff Excellence Award in 2001 and Jackson School of Geosciences Staff Excellence Award in 2006.  He was a member of the Geological Society of America, the Geoscience Information Society, and was President of the Austin Geological Society. He received his B.A. and MLS from Louisiana State University in 1975 and 1977, respectively. His extensive library science career began shortly thereafter: acting as the Common Curriculum Librarian at Loyola University for three years, and the Physical Sciences Bibliographer at the Science Library of the University of Georgia for five years.

In 2019, the Dennis Trombatore Excellence Fund for the Walter Geology was established in the Jackson School of Geosciences to honor him.

What made Dennis so special to so many of us?  He would help anyone, graduate student, undergraduate student, faculty, researcher, staff who was searching for information – be it an obscure reference or support for a budding theory.  If he came across something of interest that he knew you were working on, he would send you the article.  He demonstrated a deep concern for the development of students, advising them in the classroom and through individual consultations as they pursue both their immediate research goals, and longer term career goals.  He was always there to help – whether it was a leak in the library roof or if an emeritus faculty member was ill or in the hospital.  The Walter Geology Library was a well-run ship that we can all be proud of thanks to Dennis' years of hard work and going above-and-beyond.

Dennis, without thinking, conducted himself with an amazing balance of compassion, accountability, and respect; and he quietly challenged others to do the same. He will be deeply missed.

__________________________________________________

Dennis was an amazing person and a geologic information resource beyond compare--he was always so generous with his time and knowledge, helping anyone obtain the geologic information and resources they needed. I experienced his guidance and support starting as an undergraduate, then as graduate student, and then continuing into my professional life. Just weeks before his death Dennis worked to get a recent hydrogeologic publication into the UT Digital Repository. His friends and colleagues will miss him.

--Brian Hunt

Edmund Gerald (Jerry) Wermund

Edmund Gerald Wermund Jr. Ph.D, “Jerry” as he was known to his friends and family, passed away on July 15, 2020 at age 94 in Austin, Texas after a short illness from complications of Covid-19.

Jerry was born on April 15, 1926 to Edmund and Margaret (nee: Massey) Wermund in Arlington, New Jersey. After graduating from Port Chester High School - during World War II – he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. As part of his Naval training, and after his tour of duty, he was enrolled at Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, Pa., receiving his Bachelor’s degree in geology in 1948. Jerry was attending Graduate School at Washington University in St. Louis, Mo. when he was called to another tour of duty during the Korean War. He served in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Fort Belvoir, Va. where he helped develop training manuals for Army engineers in principles of geology. After being discharged from the Army, Jerry enrolled in the graduate geology program at L.S.U in Baton Rouge, La. where he began his chief professional focus on the geology of the Gulf Coast Region. He obtained his Ph.D in geology in 1961.

Dr. Wermund was employed from 1957-1970 by Mobil Research and Development Corp. in Dallas, Tx., where he researched petroleum and mineral exploration in the Gulf. From 1970-1971 he worked as technical manager at Remote Sensing Incorporated in Houston, Tx., where he was the consultant to the United Nations Transport Saharan Highway Project. In 1971, Jerry accepted a position at the Bureau of Economic Geology at The University of Texas at Austin where he worked for 27 years. He became the Bureau’s Associate Director and Director of the Bureau’s Land Resource Laboratory. He specialized in remote sensing and surface/ subsurface geological mapping to assess petroleum resources both onshore and offshore. Jerry served on many geological panels and commissions for The University of Texas, as well as Texas State agencies and several programs for the U.S. Department of Interior. Jerry received several lifetime achievement awards for dedication and service including a resolution from the Texas Mapping Advisory Committee. For two decades Jerry served the Gulf Coast professional community through his work with Austin Geological Society, where he served as President and Vice President and received a distinguished service award.

During his career, Jerry authored many articles for various geological journals under the name E.G. Wermund. Since his retirement in 1998, he volunteered as a docent for the Austin Children’s Museum where he discovered his love of explaining geology and earth resources to youthful audiences. Since then, Jerry published four scholastic children's books about geology; “EarthScapes” (2003), “The World According to Rock” (2005), “Focus on Minerals” (2007), “Soil: More Than Just Dirt” (2009). Jerry was predeceased by his wife Susan Jo (nee: Bentley) in 1995, his son Dirk Wermund of Dallas in 2016, his brother Jay Wermund of North Plainfield, NJ in 1971, and sister Lois Graf of Port Jervis, NY in 2016.

Jerry is survived by his son Edmund G. Wermund III of Austin, his ex-wife Carolyn (nee: McComsey) Murphy of Austin, his nieces and nephews Chris (Betty) Wermund, Mark (Sara) Wermund, Tim (Becca) Wermund of Austin, Henry (Sharon) Graf, Michael Graf, Kathie (Tom) Wrublewski, and Ellen Graf, and great nieces and nephews Ben, Jason, Tirza, Trevor, P.J., Henry, Matthew, Amanda, Jennifer, Diane, Jonathan, Ian and Maximillian.

Due to the Covid-19 crisis, Jerry’s family is mourning his passing privately, but plan to host a ‘Celebration of Life’ in his honor in 2021. Please make a contribution to the American Cancer Association, if you would like to make a donation to a charity in his name.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.cookwaldenforestoaks.com for the Wermund family.

Bruce Fink

AGS Founding Member Bruce Fink passed away on August 22nd, 2019. Bruce Fink was a charter member and has been a member of the Austin Geological Society since its inception in 1965. He was an officer in 1968, 1985, and President in 1988. In 1950, he graduated from Downs High School. He served in the U.S. Army before receiving his Bachelor of Science degree in Geology from Kansas State University. The Austin Geological Society thanks Bruce and appreciates his many years of dedication and service and wishes Bruce and his family Godspeed. We are indeed thankful to Bruce for his dedication and service and send our condolences to his family.

—provided by Jimmie Russell and John Berry

Randy Williams

Long-time AGS member Randy Williams passed away on March 23, 2019. Randy served as AGS President in 2003-04 and was Vice-President twice, 2001-02 and 2013-14. Randy was a graduate of UT-San Antonio. His career included time with the Edwards Aquifer Authority and the Texas Water Development Board. For the last few years he was a solo consultant, Bar-W Groundwater Exploration, LLC.

provided by John Mikels

Robert Louis "Luigi" Folk

From Dean Sharon Mosher:

Bob (Luigi) Folk died Monday, June 4th, 2018 after surgery at the age of 93.  He was in poor health, but was in the office as recently as last week – still investigating geology’s puzzles. Luigi is a legendary figure for the Jackson School of Geosciences, The University of Texas at Austin, and the field of sedimentary geology.  It is difficult to believe he is gone.

There will be a memorial service for him on Saturday, June 9th at 1 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church (1201 Lavaca St, Austin, TX 78701) and a visitation the night before, Friday June 8th from 6—8 p.m. at the Weed-Corley-Fish South funeral home (2620 South Congress Ave., Austin, Texas 78705).  You can read Luigi’s obituaryhere.

Luigi has an enormous legacy – both in terms of his research and the countless students he taught and supervised.  He formulated the first carbonate-rock classification in the world.  His sandstone classification, though modified, still survives.  The “orange book” – Petrology of Sedimentary Rocks, used and cherished by so many students, had six printings. His long-standing debate with Earle McBride on deep versus shallow water deposition led them from West Texas to Italy.   Memories of Luigi were captured in Folk Tales for his 90th birthday; other information about Luigi and his remarkable career can be found here. 

For his scientific genius, he was awarded the 2000 Penrose Medal at the Geological Society of America, its highest honor.  In 1979 he received the Twenhofel Medal from SEPM (Society for Sedimentary Geology), and in 1990 he received the Sorby Medal from the International Association of Sedimentologists.  For his teaching he was awarded the Geology Foundation Outstanding Teacher Award and the Carolyn G. and G. Moses Knebel Distinguished Teaching Award, both from the University of Texas, the Neil Miner Award from the National Association of Geology Teachers (1989), and the Distinguished Educator Medal from the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (1997).  In 2008 he was inducted into the Jackson School of Geosciences Hall of Distinction.

Luigi was one of the most creative people I have known.  He will be greatly missed.

Sadly,

Sharon Mosher

An obituary for Bob can be found here.

Ann Molineux

"It is with great sadness I let you know that our colleague, Ann Molineux, passed away yesterday morning.  A memorial service will be held later in March so that family and colleagues can travel to Austin.  I will send more information as soon as I know more.   Her husband Ian has asked that rather than sending flowers, any donations be made to help establish an Ann Molineux Excellence fund for the nonvertebrate collections or to MD Anderson Cancer Center.  

Ann was Director of Museum Operations and Curator for the Nonvertebrate Paleontology Laboratory at the Pickle Research Campus.  For years Ann has made groundbreaking advances in making the collections more accessible to everyone for research, exhibit and education, including bring the collections into the digital age.  She was an amazing person and will be greatly missed."

--From Dean Mosher, Jackson School of Geoscience

Ernie Baker

By Raymond Slade, Jr.

Ernie Baker passed away in Austin, Texas on August 20, 2017.  After graduating with a degree in geology from the University of Texas at Austin in 1956, he began his career with a 120-day job appointment with the Geologic Division of the USGS. His job was to map a newly discovered uranium deposit in South Texas.  After that successful assignment, Ernie obtained a permanent position with the USGS in Texas.  Ernie retired in 1992, and then was hired as a retired annuitant.  When that position was abolished a few years later, he became a volunteer worker for the USGS.   He loved his work and his many friends within the USGS.

Although Ernie shunned the limelight, he was surprised on July 28, 2006, with an office celebration of his 50 years of service to the USGS.  Along with supplying geologic information and data to many co-workers, Ernie provided responses to the many data and information requests received by the Austin office.   His work was always deliberate, thorough, and accurate.  It is not an exaggeration to state that he knew more about Texas geology than anybody on the planet.  He was a very kind and considerate to everyone and will be missed by all who knew him.

Memories of AGS's first president Peter T. Flawn

Academic, Educator, Austin Geological Society’s First President, and UT-Austin President (1979-1985, 1997)

By James W. Sansom, Jr., P.G.

In the early 1960s, I was just beginning my career as a geologist when I first met Dr. Flawn at the Bureau of Economic Geology which was then located on Little Campus.  He was a strong and very good leader, outspoken, dedicated to his geological profession, and highly respected by his peers.  

In 1965 the Austin Geological Society was initiated, and he became the first President of AGS.   The first officers were Harold Holloway, Vice-President; Ernest T. Baker, Treasurer; and I was Secretary. Dr. Flawn was a pleasure to work with in getting our new geological society started.   An article titled “Austin Geological Society: Early History and Recollections”, co-authored by Sansom and Baker, published in the Austin Geological Society Bulletin, Volume 4, 2008, tells the story of the first years of the society.

Dr. William L. Fisher shared the following memories of Dr. Flawn: “When I came to the Austin and the University of Texas 58 years ago, Peter Flawn and I had adjacent offices in Building J, on the Little Campus, as we have had in recent years in the Geological Sciences Building.   But a lot happened in the intervening years. Peter Flawn was to go on to become director of the Bureau of Economic Geology and later to a distinguished career in higher education leadership at UT San Antonio and at UT Austin, culminating in the presidency of both universities. A very significant part of the standing of UT Austin is due directly to the leadership and vision of Peter Flawn. He was a good friend and my prime mentor through the years.  I often sought his advice and counsel which was always insightful, wise and to the point. We have lost a truly outstanding leader and a great Texas geologist.” 

Click here for the UT-Austin obituary.

Click here for the Austin American Statesman article.

Robert Lee Bluntzer

AGS member Robert Lee Bluntzer, age 83, passed away on December 2, 2016. AGS extends condolences to the Bluntzer family.  More information can be found here. 

In 2006 Bob wrote an AGS Bulletin paper about his work on the water well on the Texas State Capitol grounds. Click here to see the paper. In addition, Bob wrote some important reports on groundwater resources while at the Texas Water Development Board, including TWDB Report 339: Evaluation of Ground-Water Resources of the Paleozoic and Cretaceous Aquifers in the Hill Country of Central Texas.

*****************************

Bob Bluntzer, P.G. was a member of the Austin Geological Society for many years and during that time was an officer and participated in society meetings and field trips.  We have known each other since our days in Geology School at University of Texas at Austin and later worked for the Texas Water Development Board.    Since our retirement from the State of Texas, we worked together as Consulting Geologist on several geologic projects in Central Texas.    Bob gave me a copy of the Travel Guide of a West Texas Trip to Big Bend National Park and McDonald Observatory that he prepared in 2006 for the UT QUEST Organization that he and his wife, Jo, participated in for many years.  His daughter, Alice Ley, and son, Peter Bluntzer, as well as, UT QUEST approved and encouraged making this Travel Guide available to those who wish to download it.   Bob’s research of geology, water resources, and history of the towns and counties along the route are worthy of being shared with others.

Thank you, Bob.      

James W. Sansom, Jr., P.G. 

The guidebook can be accessed below:

• Guidebook

• Maps

William Leroy "Bill" Rader

AGS member William Rader passed away July 23, 2016. AGS extends condolences to the Rader family and also to his son and AGS member Bill Rader. Click here for more information.