Robert Macleod Storm

Robert Macleod “Doc” Storm Robert M. Storm died January 16, 2017 in Albany, from complications sustained in a 2015 fall. Born July 9, 1918, in Calgary, Alberta Canada, to American parents, William Burns Storm and Nellie (Haley) Storm, Robert spent his youth in Portland and DeKalb, Illinois. Bob received a B.Ed. in 1939 from Northern Illinois State Teachers College, now Northern Illinois University, and a M.S. in 1941 from Oregon State University in Corvallis. He didn’t obtain his Ph. D. until 1948 as WWII interrupted his studies. He was a medic with the 37th Engineers Combat Battalion. His battalion was among the first to land on Omaha Beach. Called “Doc” by his friends and colleagues, he served as a member of the OSU faculty Zoology Department from 1948 to 1984. During this time he mentored 71 graduate students. He was a beloved professor whose field trips to southeastern Oregon to study “herps” were highly prized. Bob loved the outdoors and camped with his family and his students as much as possible. Known as the “Dean of Northwestern Herpetology,” Bob contributed to several books including “Wildlife” by Robert B. Smith (1976), “Amphibians of Washington and Oregon” (1993), and “Reptiles of Washington and Oregon” (1995). In 2016, one of his former students honored him by endowing the continuing “Robert M. Storm Lecture Series in Herpetology” at Oregon State University. He leaves behind a sister, Barbara Jean Holley (one brother and one sister predeceased him); his wife Patricia Elvalee Petzel; three children from his first marriage to Carol Offner, Robert Haley Storm, Ellen Christine Storm-Rycraft, and David Bruce Storm; three children from his second wife Marvene Christensen, Susan Kay Storm, Marjorie Jane Storm, and Michael Burns Storm; three grandchildren, Haley Jasmine Hayes, Mary Storm Forson, and Sage Patricia Forson; and twin great-grandsons, Arlo Jude Hayes and Elliott Amos Hayes. His first two wives predeceased him. He will be greatly missed. A memorial service in honor of Bob will be held at 1:00 pm on Saturday, January 28 at McHenry Funeral Home, 206 NW 5th St Corvallis. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Malheur Field Station 34848 Sodhouse Lane in Princeton, Oregon 97721. To leave condolences for the family please visit www.mchenryfuneralhome.com.

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Robert Macleod Storm

July 9, 1918 - January 16, 2017