Mervin Kontrovitz Ph.D.

Mervin Kontrovitz, Ph.D.Mervin Kontrovitz passed away on Friday, September 4, 2015, after a short illness. He was born in Toledo, Ohio on January 15, 1935. He received a B.S. in Geology, B.Ed. from the University of Toledo, M.S. in Geology from the University of Florida, and Ph. D. in Geology from Tulane University. He served in the U.S. Army Reserve as a 2nd. Lt. from 1958-1966. He was elected Senior Fellow of the Geological Society of America, a member of the American Association of University Administrators, American Association for the Advancement of Science, Emeritus member of the Paleontological Society, British Micropaleontology Society, International Research Group on Ostracoda, North American Micropaleontology Section SEPM, American Petroleum Institute, the Louisiana Academy of Sciences, and the New Jersey Academy of Sciences. He was a member of the following honor societies, Sigma Xi (Science Research), Phi Kappa Phi (Academics), Sigma Gamma Epsilon (Geology), and Gamma Theta Epsilon (Geography).He began his academic teaching career at Rider University in New Jersey where he was an Endowed Professor in Geology and Head of the Geology Department. He came to ULM (then NLU) as Head of the Geoscience Department in 1980 and rose to the position of Dean of Pure and Applied Sciences. He retired from ULM in 2004 and was elected Professor Emeritus of Geosciences in 2007. He was a prolific researcher and published dozens of research papers in Paleontology and Micropaleontology in peer reviewed journals, gave dozens of papers and presentations at professional meetings and conferences around the world, and edited CYPRIS, the International Ostracoda Newsletter. He was Visiting Scientist at the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, a consultant to CADW Welsh Historical Monuments, reviewed grant proposals for the NSF, was a member of the Ancient Mounds Heritage Area and Trails Advisory Commission, Office of the Governor, State of Louisiana, Distinguished Scientist of the Year 1991 - Louisiana Academy of Sciences, and many other accomplishments and honors too numerous to list here. He is survived by his beloved wife of 41 years, Eileen Romeo Kontrovitz and their two children, David Kontrovitz of Glastonbury, CT, Rachel Kontrovitz Christiansen and husband Maj. Mark Christensen of Hamden, CT; brother, Harold Kontrovitz and wife Joan, of Keene, N.H.; brother-in-law Frank Romeo and wife Florence; and numerous nieces and nephews. In accordance with Mervs wishes he will be cremated and no service or memorial held. Memorial donations can be made to the Friends of the Ouachita Public Library, Attention, Marianne Jones, President, 1800 Stubbs Avenue, Monroe, LA 71201.