Ten months ago I posted a memorial to a former professor of mine, Jerry O.Wolff. He was an ex-officio committee member of mine. 
News in the animal behavior and small rodent research circles spread quickly about his apparent suicide in the Canyonlands National Park in Utah. His notes to relatives and friends stated he wanted to return his body and soul to nature and asked for no one to look for him and leave his body alone. 
Being a strict ecologist, I can understand that wish. However, there was a big search for him that was unsuccessful. Jerry Wolff was a surprisingly rugged outdoorsman; and he obviously found a very remote place for his last moments. Just a few days ago, his remains were found. The truth is, his remains may have remained undiscovered if it weren't for another very experienced hiker who came across his body at a base of a cliff.
Most people who choose to end their lives in natural areas usually do so within a few hundred feet of major hiking or landscape entries. Could you imagine the horror and scarring of a young child who discovered a dead, decaying, insect/animal swarming body while on a family outing? I'm very glad Jerry chose a very private place to end his life. The account of the story can be accessed at the Star Tribune Newspaper of Minneapolis-St. Paul.
News in the animal behavior and small rodent research circles spread quickly about his apparent suicide in the Canyonlands National Park in Utah. His notes to relatives and friends stated he wanted to return his body and soul to nature and asked for no one to look for him and leave his body alone. Being a strict ecologist, I can understand that wish. However, there was a big search for him that was unsuccessful. Jerry Wolff was a surprisingly rugged outdoorsman; and he obviously found a very remote place for his last moments. Just a few days ago, his remains were found. The truth is, his remains may have remained undiscovered if it weren't for another very experienced hiker who came across his body at a base of a cliff.Most people who choose to end their lives in natural areas usually do so within a few hundred feet of major hiking or landscape entries. Could you imagine the horror and scarring of a young child who discovered a dead, decaying, insect/animal swarming body while on a family outing? I'm very glad Jerry chose a very private place to end his life. The account of the story can be accessed at the Star Tribune Newspaper of Minneapolis-St. Paul.