In Memoriam

Gordon F. Hartman September 20, 1927 – April 21, 2021 Family, friends, and colleagues recently lost Gordon Hartman (Gordo), a noted Canadian scientist who, in many ways, in many parts of the world, gave credence to the saying, “He made a meaningful difference.” Hartman had a 75-year passion for salmonids, particularly North American trout and Pacific salmon (Salmonidae). It all began with an unpublished 1956 MA thesis from the department of zoology at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. While he published early on about schooling behavior in sculpins (Cottoidea) and Smallmouth Bass Micropterus dolomieu, he also studied catastomids in 1965, and Arctic Grayling Thymallus arcticus in 1987. His initial thrust with salmonids really began through joint publications with T. G. Northcote and C. C. Lindsey in the late 1950s. By 1965, Hartman had his expertise for Coho Salmon Oncorhynchus kisutch and steelhead O. mykiss recognized in the Journal of Fisheries Research for his PhD thesis research. Hartman went on to be the senior author of 39 salmonid-related publications and 17 joint papers. Most noteworthy, he was the senior scientist and coordinator for the long-term, interdisciplinary watershed study at Carnation Creek on Vancouver Island, British Columbia (BC), for the years 1980–1987. During this time, he was involved in publishing 26 reports on the impacts of intensive logging in a temperate, West Coas rain forest. The study is still ongoing in 2023 and reflects well on Gordon and his colleagues that follow. Some important forestry practices have changed for the better because of this research. An extensive review of Hartman's many other involvements with fish indicates he was indeed a consummate advocate for their habitat and fisheries. His unique abilities developed intentionally by integrating his experiences with research, teaching, administration, and private consulting. The following partial list of his contributions are staggering to those he worked with and mentored: fisheries biologist (1956); research scientist (1957–1968); assistant professor (1968–1972); United Nations fisheries biologist (1975–1976); Yukon, Canada regional director (1971–1980); scientist, Pacific Biological Station, Nanaimo, BC (1980–1987); adjunct professor, University of Waterloo, Canada and University of Addis Ababa; technical advisor on the controversial Canadian federal assessment of the Oldman Dam project (1991). He also taught life histories of BC salmonids to an indigenous fisheries program (1992); taught a special aquaculture course to advanced managers from Ecuador (1992); advised on the implications and risks to fisheries from completion of the world-renowned Kemano Aluminum Project (1993 and 1994); was a member of the Clayoquot Sound Scientific Panel (1993–1995); delivered a paper at the 18th Pacific Science Conference in Beijing, China, on human population growth and effects on natural resources in the upper Fraser River, B.C.; consulted on fisheries enhancement for the Wenatchee River, Washington, USA (1995); served as project administrator for Lake Malawi/Nyasa Biodiversity and Conservation Project (1997–1998); and coauthored a book with T. G. Northcote, Fishes and Forestry: Worldwide Interactions and Management. After nearly 50 years of highly varied research, teaching, administration and consulting Gordon, the “inexhaustible,” was still active in the “fish game.” He found a local radio host, politician, book author, and importantly a fisherman, who was more than sympathetic to Gordon's view that without human population control, natural living resources, including fish, were not sustainable. Hartman brought that message to organizations he was associated with, including the Canadian Society of Environmental Biologists, Canadian Society of Zoologists, Canadian Labor and Environmental Alliance, and the local chapter of the American Fisheries Society. Gordon had been an AFS member since 1957. Gordon believed strongly in creating family adventures. In his varied assignments his wife, Helen, and four children learned the gift of associating with the natural world. Mountains were a special appeal where all developed values of great warmth, security, diversity, and novelty. Gordon said, “Sharing experiences with those you love will be remembered forever.” That was the Hartman mantra! As a mentor and teacher, Hartman was always creative and progressive. The world could do with a lot more of his ilk. And in passing, were you ever the butt of his cartoons, witty skits, or practical jokes? He never admitted to most! Gordo, the gentle giant, in so many fish related scenes, has cast his last line after a rich and giving life to 95.

Fetched live from OpenAlex and de-inverted. Abstracts are not stored in this database: the inverted indexes are 8.6 GB of the frame’s 9.3 GB of text, and the host has 13 GB free.