This is sad news.  I found Don Shasky to be a very friendly and generous
man, who was always willing and eager to share his extensive knowledge -
not always swiftly, but when you left a mystery with Don, you could rest
assured he would either solve it or at the very least give it his very
best shot!

-Ross M.

> From: "Henry W. Chaney" <[log in to unmask]>
>
> Donald R. Shasky  (1925-2002)
>
> It is with great regret that I report the passing of Dr. Donald R.  Shasky,
> M.D., at age 76.  Don died this morning, 25 February 2002, in  Oceanside,
> California from the complications of Alzheimer's disease, after a  relatively
> short period of failing health.   He his survived by his wife, Ursula,  three
> sons and their families.
>
> Although his professional training and career was as a dermatologist,
> Don
> was also a highly knowledgeable and dedicated malacologist, who during
> a 40
> year period amassed a comprehensive collection of Panamic mollusks as
> well
> as a formidable number of species from the tropical Pacific.  He had a
> particular interest in the collection of micro shells and other
> cryptic
> species, which he would gather either from grunge or by shaking loose
> substrates into a large bag for later sorting.  The success of this
> method
> influenced all who traveled with Don over the years.  Perhaps his
> greatest
> contribution to the study of eastern Pacific mollusks was through a
> series
> of ten expeditions he led to Cocos Island, Costa Rica from 1983 to
> 1997 (his
> last collecting trip).  The result of this work is still to be fully
> appreciated.
>
> Don published extensively on his discoveries, described new species
> and had
> several described in his honor. He was a great contributor to the
> works of
> many professional malacologists throughout the world and materials
> from his
> collection have been repeatedly cited in numerous monographs,
> published over
> the last quarter century.  Readers of American Conchologist will
> recall Don'
> s serialized reports of his extensive travels as "Wanderings of an
> Itinerant
> Malacologist."
>
> Don's collections, including his extensive library-archive of
> publications,
> letters, historical photographs and journals are housed at the Santa
> Barbara
> Museum of Natural History.
>
> Henry Chaney
> Director of Collections and Research
> Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History

--
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