When I asked him some years ago about a copy of his description for Conus
kahiko (an endemic fossil cone in Hawai'i) he graciously sent me a copy with
a promise that I would scan it in for him.

John and Cheryl Jacobs
COA 2024 Oral/Silent Auction Chairs
Seffner, FL
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-----Original Message-----
From: Conchologists List <[log in to unmask]> On Behalf Of
Paulay,Gustav
Sent: Saturday, November 19, 2022 12:12 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [CONCH-L] Passing of Alan Kohn

Dear All,

I am sharing the sad news that Alan Kohn died peacefully in Seattle at the
age of 91.  Alan was one of the most gentle, kind, and supportive scientists
and touched many lives over his long life and career working on cones,
mollusks, coral reefs and ecology.

Alan's PhD was one of the first tests of Hutchinson's niche concept on
Hawaiian cones that led to a lifelong passion for what he often referred to
as the most diverse invertebrate genus.  He revised the early nomenclature
of cones, created guides to Indo-Pacific and Atlantic species, and published
widely on many aspects of their biology.  He was an amazing naturalist,
broadly knowledgeable about mollusks, other invertebrates, birds, and all
living things.  He shared this passion with his late wife, Marian Adachi
Kohn, with whom they were gracious and ever-welcoming hosts in their home
and large garden, where visits invariably involved observations and
discussions about life around us, the slugs, terrestrial nemerteans, plants
and birds there that kept them company.

His passion for the living world, encyclopedic knowledge, supportive nature,
and dedication to mentoring has guided many into appreciating and working on
invertebrates, marine life, systematics, and ecology. Over his long career
AJK mentored a large number of grad students and a constant stream of
undergraduates who pursued research in his lab and often ended up pursuing
careers in the field.  He was supportive and helpful to the malacological
and marine science communities around the world, offering help and support
to institutions throughout the world and corresponding and sharing his
knowledge and puns.  His favorite tool, I think was a diffuser for
photography that he named Kohn's cone cone.

Alan spent most of his career at the University of Washington, where over
the span of more than 60 years in the Dept of Zoology/Biology, frequently
taught at the Friday Harbor Labs and was adjunct curator at the Burke
Museum. Alan visited most major mollusk collections in the world and deeply
appreciated their importance.  He bequeathed their family home, together
with Sievert Rohwer, to endow a curatorial position at the Burke. Alan
worked regularly in his office as emeritus until the last two years and his
impact lives on.  He will be missed.

Gustav

Gustav Paulay
Florida Museum of Natural History
University of Florida
Gainesville FL 32611-7800 USA

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