Obituary for Winthrop D. ""Win"" Means
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Winthrop D. Means on October 7, 2022. Win was a legend in structural geology and an emeritus professor of geological sciences at the State University of New York, Albany, until his death at age 89.
He was born in Brooklyn, New York, on February 7, 1933, to Winthrop J. Means and Margaret Hay Means. Win attended Harvard University and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in geology, summa cum laude, in 1955. He was also awarded a Fulbright Scholarship, and studied at Emmanual College, Cambridge University. He then earned a Ph.D. in structural geology in 1960 at the University of California at Berkley. His first faculty position was at the University of Otago in New Zealand, where he was a lecturer from 1960 to 1964. He became a postdoctoral fellow at the Australian National University from 1964 to 1965. Win joined the faculty in Geological Sciences at the State University of New York at Albany in 1965, where he achieved the rank of professor. He remained at Albany until his retirement in 1997, after a 37-year career. Win continued to be active after his appointment as professor emeritus in 1998, based on his outstanding accomplishments and service to the University. He served as the department chairman twice during his tenure as professor and served on the editorial boards of the Journal of Structural Geology and Tectonophysics.
Win’s research resulted in over 50 major peer-reviewed publications in internationally recognized journals and two premier textbooks in structural geology, ‘An Outline of Structural Geology’ co-authored with Bruce Hobbs and Paul Williams, and ‘Stress and Strain, Basic Concepts in Continuum Mechanics for Geologists.’ His texts became required reading for students in the field of structural geology and were translated into other languages.
Win’s research was funded continuously by the National Science Foundation (NSF) beginning in 1976.This enabled him to pioneer the development of a new method for observing grain-scale deformation process through a microscope in real time with Dr. Janos L. Urai. This perspective opened an area of study previously limited to the examination of the initial and final stages of fabric development. In his experimental device, Win simulated many ductile microstructures found in real rocks and rock-like materials, tracking their evolution in real time. He is credited with pushing the limits of experimental structural geology by simulating and revolutionizing the understanding of solid-state microstructures, as well as those formed in crystal-melt mixtures. His approach allowed reproducibility and quantitative analysis of a wide range of microstructures. The processes observed during the simulation have confirmed, modified, and/or revolutionized our understanding of ductile microtextures as well as those from a deforming crystal-melt mixture. His paper, “Synkinematic Microscopy of Transparent Poly crystals,” summarizes this concept. Win helped install his ‘real time’ experimental apparatus in ten other Universities, also teaching short courses on the device and observations. Some of his experimental work and visualization of active deformation are featured in the Earth Sciences exhibit at the Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC.
Win was a brilliant scientist, yet always kind, helpful, unpretentious, full of wit and often subtle humor. He did much to bring structural geology from a largely descriptive to a quantitative branch of science, receiving numerous awards, dedicated conferences and meetings, and a book in his honor. He received a Senior Fulbright Fellowship, CSIRO Geomechanics, in Melbourne, Australia, in 1992 In 1996, he was presented the Career Achievement Award from the Structure and Tectonics Division of the Geological Society of America. He also received the State University of NY at Albany Excellence in Research Award in 1997 and the Bruce Hobbs Medal from the Geological Society of Australia in 1997. He served on funding panels for the National Science Foundation from 1983 to 1986 and for Gilbert Fellowships from the U.S. Geological Survey from 1991 to 1994. He was on editorial boards for both Tectonophysics (1980 to 1999) and Journal of Structural Geology (1983 to 1999). He also served on evaluation committees for Utrecht University, the Netherlands, in 1987 and Northern Arizona University in 1990.
Win epitomized the “gentleman” scientist, holding himself to the highest ethical standards and expecting no less of his students and colleagues; he also was always generous with his time, helping others. He was well-known for asking seminar presenters or defending Ph.D. students alike the most penetrating and thought-provoking of all questions, but always in the politest manner, demonstrating his genuine curiosity, keen insights and understanding of a range of geological problems. At Win’s GSA Career Award ceremony, Dr. Declan DePaor, professor of geophysics at Old Dominion University, summed up Win’s sincere and unassuming character remarks by stating “It is not normal, on occasions such as this, to list a person’s shortcomings in addition to their achievements. However, I must mention one of Win’s failings: he has no real understanding of the value of his own work, nor any appreciation of the importance of his community service contributions in our science. He may even try to tell you he has not been terribly productive, or that his interests have been esoteric. Pay no attention to him!” All of Win’s graduate students appreciated his humanity, as well as his wise mentoring and outstanding teaching. Win will be missed by his family, friends, colleagues, and students, but his enormous impact on individuals at SUNY Albany and Earth science will endure.
He was not just as a focused scientist. Win loved and excelled in sports, most notably squash and skiing; he was dedicated to his friends and family, including his cherished wife, Marilyn, and Andy, Dani, and Marli, his German Shepard compatriots. He excelled as an all-around handyman, a skill honed by maintaining his laboratory experimental apparatus for over 37 years. He thoroughly enjoyed getting his hands dirty, fixing one of his many antique and modern tractors, and maintaining the peaceful acres that he shared with Marilyn and their dogs.
Win is survived by his wife, the former Marilyn Morin, of Stephentown, NY; a sister, Margaret McIntosh of Waltham, MA; three children: Sarah Newman of Northampton, MA; Bridget Means of Charleston, SC; and Peter Means of Blacksburg, VA; two stepchildren: Tracy Myers of Loudonville, NY and Scott Roberts of Simsbury, CT; five grandsons; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his sister, Helen Armstrong.
Because of Win’s love for animals, remembrances may be made to the Berkshire Humane Society in Pittsfield, MA.
A Liturgy of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday October 21, 2022 at 11 a.m. at St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church, Marshall St. North Adams, MA. Calling Hours are Thursday October 20, 2022 from 4-7 p.m. at the Flynn & Dagnoli Funeral Home, WEST CHAPELS, 521 West Main St. North Adams, MA. To add to the Book of Memories, please visit flynndagnolifuneralhomes.com.
He was born in Brooklyn, New York, on February 7, 1933, to Winthrop J. Means and Margaret Hay Means. Win attended Harvard University and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in geology, summa cum laude, in 1955. He was also awarded a Fulbright Scholarship, and studied at Emmanual College, Cambridge University. He then earned a Ph.D. in structural geology in 1960 at the University of California at Berkley. His first faculty position was at the University of Otago in New Zealand, where he was a lecturer from 1960 to 1964. He became a postdoctoral fellow at the Australian National University from 1964 to 1965. Win joined the faculty in Geological Sciences at the State University of New York at Albany in 1965, where he achieved the rank of professor. He remained at Albany until his retirement in 1997, after a 37-year career. Win continued to be active after his appointment as professor emeritus in 1998, based on his outstanding accomplishments and service to the University. He served as the department chairman twice during his tenure as professor and served on the editorial boards of the Journal of Structural Geology and Tectonophysics.
Win’s research resulted in over 50 major peer-reviewed publications in internationally recognized journals and two premier textbooks in structural geology, ‘An Outline of Structural Geology’ co-authored with Bruce Hobbs and Paul Williams, and ‘Stress and Strain, Basic Concepts in Continuum Mechanics for Geologists.’ His texts became required reading for students in the field of structural geology and were translated into other languages.
Win’s research was funded continuously by the National Science Foundation (NSF) beginning in 1976.This enabled him to pioneer the development of a new method for observing grain-scale deformation process through a microscope in real time with Dr. Janos L. Urai. This perspective opened an area of study previously limited to the examination of the initial and final stages of fabric development. In his experimental device, Win simulated many ductile microstructures found in real rocks and rock-like materials, tracking their evolution in real time. He is credited with pushing the limits of experimental structural geology by simulating and revolutionizing the understanding of solid-state microstructures, as well as those formed in crystal-melt mixtures. His approach allowed reproducibility and quantitative analysis of a wide range of microstructures. The processes observed during the simulation have confirmed, modified, and/or revolutionized our understanding of ductile microtextures as well as those from a deforming crystal-melt mixture. His paper, “Synkinematic Microscopy of Transparent Poly crystals,” summarizes this concept. Win helped install his ‘real time’ experimental apparatus in ten other Universities, also teaching short courses on the device and observations. Some of his experimental work and visualization of active deformation are featured in the Earth Sciences exhibit at the Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC.
Win was a brilliant scientist, yet always kind, helpful, unpretentious, full of wit and often subtle humor. He did much to bring structural geology from a largely descriptive to a quantitative branch of science, receiving numerous awards, dedicated conferences and meetings, and a book in his honor. He received a Senior Fulbright Fellowship, CSIRO Geomechanics, in Melbourne, Australia, in 1992 In 1996, he was presented the Career Achievement Award from the Structure and Tectonics Division of the Geological Society of America. He also received the State University of NY at Albany Excellence in Research Award in 1997 and the Bruce Hobbs Medal from the Geological Society of Australia in 1997. He served on funding panels for the National Science Foundation from 1983 to 1986 and for Gilbert Fellowships from the U.S. Geological Survey from 1991 to 1994. He was on editorial boards for both Tectonophysics (1980 to 1999) and Journal of Structural Geology (1983 to 1999). He also served on evaluation committees for Utrecht University, the Netherlands, in 1987 and Northern Arizona University in 1990.
Win epitomized the “gentleman” scientist, holding himself to the highest ethical standards and expecting no less of his students and colleagues; he also was always generous with his time, helping others. He was well-known for asking seminar presenters or defending Ph.D. students alike the most penetrating and thought-provoking of all questions, but always in the politest manner, demonstrating his genuine curiosity, keen insights and understanding of a range of geological problems. At Win’s GSA Career Award ceremony, Dr. Declan DePaor, professor of geophysics at Old Dominion University, summed up Win’s sincere and unassuming character remarks by stating “It is not normal, on occasions such as this, to list a person’s shortcomings in addition to their achievements. However, I must mention one of Win’s failings: he has no real understanding of the value of his own work, nor any appreciation of the importance of his community service contributions in our science. He may even try to tell you he has not been terribly productive, or that his interests have been esoteric. Pay no attention to him!” All of Win’s graduate students appreciated his humanity, as well as his wise mentoring and outstanding teaching. Win will be missed by his family, friends, colleagues, and students, but his enormous impact on individuals at SUNY Albany and Earth science will endure.
He was not just as a focused scientist. Win loved and excelled in sports, most notably squash and skiing; he was dedicated to his friends and family, including his cherished wife, Marilyn, and Andy, Dani, and Marli, his German Shepard compatriots. He excelled as an all-around handyman, a skill honed by maintaining his laboratory experimental apparatus for over 37 years. He thoroughly enjoyed getting his hands dirty, fixing one of his many antique and modern tractors, and maintaining the peaceful acres that he shared with Marilyn and their dogs.
Win is survived by his wife, the former Marilyn Morin, of Stephentown, NY; a sister, Margaret McIntosh of Waltham, MA; three children: Sarah Newman of Northampton, MA; Bridget Means of Charleston, SC; and Peter Means of Blacksburg, VA; two stepchildren: Tracy Myers of Loudonville, NY and Scott Roberts of Simsbury, CT; five grandsons; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his sister, Helen Armstrong.
Because of Win’s love for animals, remembrances may be made to the Berkshire Humane Society in Pittsfield, MA.
A Liturgy of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday October 21, 2022 at 11 a.m. at St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church, Marshall St. North Adams, MA. Calling Hours are Thursday October 20, 2022 from 4-7 p.m. at the Flynn & Dagnoli Funeral Home, WEST CHAPELS, 521 West Main St. North Adams, MA. To add to the Book of Memories, please visit flynndagnolifuneralhomes.com.