Southern Arizona geologist and educator Doug Shakel dies
Doug Shakel (1938-2012), geologist, teacher and activist, passed away on the evening of 20 November 2012 after a short battle with liver cancer. Doug's career as a professor of Earth sciences at Pima Community College (PCC), Tucson, Arizona, spanned nearly 30 years.
Renowned for his field trips while at PCC, Doug led his students on geologic and cultural expeditions to Iceland, Italy, Thailand, China, Turkey, and Africa, among other places. Doug retired from PCC several years ago and for the past several years was a board member of the Arizona Geological Society.
Doug received his B.S. in Geology from the California Institute of Technology in 1961. He then served as a commissioned officer in the Air Force and was honorably discharged in 1967. In 1974, Doug received his M.S. in Geology from the University of Arizona. A dedicated geologist and educator, Doug was also an avowed environmental activist and played a key role in establishing Catalina State Park.
One of Doug’s final acts as a professional geologist was to plan and lead three field trips during the May 2012 48th AnnualForum on the Geology of Industrial Minerals hosted by the Arizona Geological Survey in Scottsdale, Arizona.
For more on Doug see Tony Davis marvelous piece, “Geologist, environmentalist Doug Shakel dies” from the Arizona Daily Star’s 10 December 2012 issue, or Alison Jones’ heartfelt memorial, In Memorium – Doug Shakel (1938-2012) at the Arizona Geological Society website.
