Dear colleagues,
With deep sorrow and regret, we have to announce that Professor Edwin Donaubauer passed away on March 18, 2012 in his 80th year of life in Vienna.
The burial took place on March 27 at Mauer Cemetery. A requiem will be held at parish church St. Erhard, 1230 Vienna, Endresstrasse/Maurer Hauptplatz, on Saturday, April 14 at 09:00.
Edwin Donaubauer was a pioneer of forest pathology, forest entomology and forest protection in Austria. For 40 years he was one of the influential persons of the Federal Forest Research Centre, Vienna (now Federal Research and Training Centre for Forests, Natural Hazards and Landscape – BFW, http://bfw.ac.at) and greatly contributed to its rise to an international recognized institution for forest research, first as a young scientist and from 1964 to 1994 as head of the Institute of Forest Protection (http://bfw.ac.at/rz/bfwcms.web?dok=1244). Edwin Donaubauer was also closely attached to the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU, http://www.boku.ac.at/, http://www.wabo.boku.ac.at/507.html), where he has been lecturing for 40 years, from 1971 to 2011.
Besides his national commitments in Austria, Edwin Donaubauer was thinking in international dimensions, was in intensive contact with numerous colleagues abroad and was strongly engaged in international forest research activities (e. g. IUFRO and FAO). He was one of the founders of the European Journal of Forest Pathology (now Forest Pathology) and has been serving as a member of its editorial board for 38 years.
In a world of specialization Edwin Donaubauer always impressed us because of his deep and broad knowledge in all sub-disciplines of forest protection (forest pathology, forest protection, air pollution and wildlife ecology). He will be remembered for his open and communicative personality, his positive attitude to life, his good sense of humor and his readiness to help others.
Edwin Donaubauer was so enthusiastically committed to teaching that he continued to give lectures and courses into his late 70's, even until November 2011. Generations of students will remember his enthusiasm for science, his inspiration as a teacher and his unique way of lecturing combining well-grounded expert and practical knowledge with humorously and colorful told anecdotes and case studies.
Attached you will find a photograph of Edwin, how we will remember him (taken during an excursion to the Alps in 1991).
He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and mentor to many. He is survived by his wife Annelies, his daughters Andrea and Beatrix and his son Christian and their families.
We strongly miss our passionate friend and insightful mentor!
Warm regards,
Erhard Halmschlager & Thomas Kirisits (BOKU), Thomas L. Cech & Christian Tomiczek (BFW)
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An obituary, written in German, has been posted on the BFW homepage: http://bfw.ac.at/rz/bfwcms.web?dok=9175
Another obituary will be prepared for Forest Pathology.
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If you would like to send cards or condolences, the address of the family is as follows:
Familie Donaubauer
Kanitzgasse 49
1230 Vienna
Email: christian.donaubauer@selfnet.at (son)