In Memoriam
A Remembrance of Professor James E. Applegate by Dr. Mike Sukhdeo
We're deeply sad to announce that our esteemed colleague and friend Professor James "Doc" Applegate, passed away on Saturday October 28, 2023. After a long illness, he died at home surrounded by his loving family. He is survived by Carol, his wife of 58 years, and by three children and four grandchildren.
Jim was a New Jersey native, born in South Amboy. He completed his bachelor's degree at Rutgers University (in the same department he later joined as an assistant professor) and went on to earn his master's and doctorate from Penn State University in 1968, studying avian malaria. He did his postdoctoral research on malaria for the U.S. Navy at the Bethesda Naval Medical Research Institute. In 1971, he joined the faculty of what was then the Rutgers College of Agriculture and Environmental Science at Cook College (now School of Environmental and Biological Sciences) in the Department of Natural Resources (now the Department of Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources) where he rose in rank to Professor of Wildlife Ecology; he retired in 2003.
After arriving at Cook College, Jim's research directions began to focus more on wildlife biology. Jim was a groundbreaker in the human dimensions of wildlife management and his research paved the way for what is now a critical aspect of the profession. He was a charter member (and served for 50 years) on the NJ Endangered and Nongame Species Advisory Committee (ENSAC), to advise NJ Fish and Wildlife. ENSAC has been an important cog in the progress of conservation in New Jersey and has contributed to many success stories for New Jersey's wildlife. In addition, he founded the student and New Jersey state chapters of The Wildlife Society, and was active throughout his career, serving in volunteer leadership positions at the state, regional and national levels. He retired – but didn't really, and he kept his fingers in the pot attending meetings and discussions. Indeed, he continued to author collaborative papers on wildlife biology for several years after he retired. He also taught a special graduate course after retirement, Field Identification of Birds, that was beloved by the many students who took the course and learned about the natural habitats of New Jersey.
Nothing has defined Jim more than his role of instructor and mentor, and it was always evident that his top priorities were the students. He spearheaded the development of a college wide course called Perspectives on Agriculture and the Environment, and coordinated 30 faculty members in teaching more than 700 first-year Cook College students. He created an exchange program where teachers would sit in each other's classes and then meet over coffee to discuss pedagogy.
He served as curriculum coordinator for many years while often teaching up to six courses a year. In addition to his teaching and advising, he was very active in student life on Cook campus, regularly playing on basketball, softball, and volleyball teams with his students and fellow faculty members. He was the famous "Dean Beaverslap" handing out 'ornery' awards during senior week, he competed in student Air Band lip sync contests, once air-swimming while wearing tiny swim trunks and yelling "Stroke! Stroke!" He has received numerous awards for his distinguished career in natural resource education, his commitment to education at the college and in the community, and his consistent excellence in teaching. He played a role in the careers of hundreds of wildlife students - many of whom have also gone on to be leaders in state and national conservation policy.
Funeral arrangements for Professor Applegate will be private. A celebration of Jim's life will be scheduled in summer 2024. Donations can be made to: the New Jersey Chapter of The Wildlife Society, for the Doc Applegate Professional Development Fund to pay expenses for worthy NJ university students to attend Wildlife Society conferences. Go to wildlife.org/new-jersey, click on the Donate button in the top right and specify a Memorial donation in Honor of Dr. Jim Applegate.
See the story in the SEBS and NJAES Newsroom »
November 2023