Francois Vuilleumier, 1938 - 2017

[Fern Davies]

François Vuilleumier, born on November 26, 1938 in Berne, Switzerland, passed away on 11 January 2017. 

 

Dr. Vuilleumier received his Licence es sciences naturelles, University Geneva, Switzerland, 1961. Doctor of Philosophy, Harvard University, 1967.

 

He then served as an instructor at the University of Massachusetts, Boston, 1966-1967, became an assistant professor, 1967-1970, and associate professor, 1971. Returning to Switzerland, he became a professor at the University of Lausanne and also served as the Director of the Institute of Animal Ecology (1971-1972). He spent the following year as a senior researcher Marine Biological Station, Roscoff, France and as visiting professor University of Paris (1973-1974). 

 

In 1974, he became the associate curator of birds at the American Museum Natural History in New York City. Visiting professor University Paris, 

Other faculty appointments included: Adjunct professor City University of New York, since 1978;  summer faculty College of the Atlantic, Maine, 1987-1992, 95, 99, 2000; University of the Andes, Mérida, Venezuela, 1981.

 

 

Dr. Vuilleumier also chaired the Department of Ornithology, Chapman Fund, American Museum Natural History, 1987-1992.

Plenary lecturer XX International Ornithological Congress, South Africa. Leader ornithological expeditions, Ecuador, Venezuela, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina, Chile, New Britain, New Caledonia. Cruise lecturer North Pole, Antarctica, Galapagos, Falkland Islands, New Guinea, Africa, Iceland, Madagascar, Falklands.

 

His writings included: 

Co-author: High Altitude Tropical Biogeography, 1986.

Contributor more than 245 articles to professional journals.

 

In addtion, he served the editorial boards, book review editor Ornitologia Neotropical, El Hornero, Ararajuba, Anales del Instituto de la Patagonia, Rivista Italiana di Ornitologia, Zoosystema, Revue d'Ecologie, Revista Chilena de Ornitologia. 

 

His professional affiliations included: Fellow American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Ornithologists Union. Member International Council for Bird Preservation (board directors Pan-American section), Society Italiana Science National, French Ornithological Society (correspondent), Neotropical Ornithological Society (President), Union Chilean Ornithologists, Association Ornitológica del Plata, Swiss Society for the Study and Protection of Birds, Zeiss History Society, Neotropical Ornithological Society (president since 1999), International Ornithological Congress Committee, International Ornithological Congress (executive committee).

 

Francois also enjoyed painting and after retirement, showed some of his sketches, drawings and watercolors in The Art of the Bird, a show at Blue Hill Art and Cultural Center in Pearl River.