In Remembrance

The nation's entomological community, including the UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology, is mourning the deaths of Professor Emeritus Charles Mitter of the University of Maryland, a resident of Davis; entomologist-author Elizabeth "Liz" Bernays, Regents’ Professor Emerita at the University of Arizona, Tucson, and formerly on the UC Berkeley faculty; and Kim Flottum of Medina, Ohio, longtime editor of Bee Culture.

Charles Mitter. Professor Mitter (1948-2024),  renowned for his work in ecology and evolution, died unexpectedly on Feb. 27 at his home in Davis at age 75. He and his wife had initially moved to Davis to care for a terminally ill daughter, Caroline.  A memorial is planned sometime in the spring at the University of Maryland, according to University of Maryland professor Daniel Gruner.

Professor Mitter was known as a top-notch scientist, and a kind and caring man with a great sense of humor. "He was truly a caring and gentle soul," commented UC Davis distinguished professor Jay Rosenheim of UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology. "Not too many built like him."

Professor Mitter is survived by his wife, Kim Mitter; daughter, Margaret Mitter McCormick and her husband Stephen McCormick, and grandson Torion McCormick; brother Joe Mitter and his wife Nette Mitter; cousin Kathy McCormick Murray, "and many, many others whose lives he touched," according to a post on https://www.forevermissed.com/charlie-mitter/about.

Elizabeth Bernays. Professor Bernays, who died March 5, "was a tower in influence in entomology, a giant among entomologists," said entomologist Jenella Loye of the Department of Entomology and Nematology and Carroll-Loye Biological Research. "She was originally from Australia and came to Berkeley with her husband and fellow scientist Reg Chapman (1930-2003) when she was recruited to be faculty there. When I was a postdoc at UC Berkeley, Scott Carroll and I met her and we became friends. She was a constant source of inspiration throughout her life to me and to Scott.  We appreciated her mentorship so much."

Bernays received her doctorate in physiological ecology from the University of London, England;  served as a professor at UC Berkeley (1983-89); and as a Regents Professor at the University of Arizona (1989-1998). 

When Bernays retired, "she became a writer of note...she was an amazing writer," Loye said. Her work includes Six Legs Walking: Notes from an Entomological Life. (2020).  (See feature story in The Female Scientist). Survivors include her wife, Linda Hitchcock. 

Professor Bernays' former postdoctoral fellow, Joseph Spencer, wrote on Facebook: "Entomology lost one of its most insightful and passionate observers of insects on plants. Elizabeth Bernays was my postdoctoral advisor at the University of Arizona from 1994-96 and a dear friend ever since. Her enthusiasm for telling the stories revealed in the lives of insects was only exceeded by her enthusiasm for a life filled with friends and rich experience. In later years, Liz wrote beautifully about her life, her loves, and the many lessons she learned from our fascinating world. Thanks for teaching me to see with new eyes."

Kim Flottum.  A celebration of life for Peter "Kim" Flottum, longtime editor of Bee Culture magazine, a friend of the nation's beekeepers and bee scientists, and a close friend of the UC Davis bee community, is scheduled April 13 at noon in the Medina Community Church, 416 South Broadway Street. Medina, Ohio. It will be recorded, a family spokesman said.

Flottum died Sunday, Dec. 10 at his home of lung cancer at age 76. He had served as editor of Bee Culture for 33 years, retiring in 2019. He authored numerous books and podcasts, including "5000 Years of Beekeeping in 24 Minutes (100)" with Jim Tew on Honey Bee Obscura,

Flottum was a frequent speaker at UC Davis functions. In 2017, Extension apiculturist emeritus Eric Mussen (1944-2022), then serving his sixth term as president of WAS, commented: "Kim Flottum has been a stalwart in U.S. beekeeping for decades. He ferrets out information on national, regional, and local beekeeping happenings and disseminates the news in various places, depending upon his role at the time.  He is very active in the Eastern Apicultural Society and is well known by nearly every university and USDA scientist in the country."

Flottum is survived by his wife, Kathy, of Medina; a daughter, Jessica of Akron; two stepsons, Matt and Grant Summers, both of Medina; and two brothers and two sisters, all from Wisconsin: Julie (Flottum) Hugg of Ashland; Bob Flottum of Chippewa Falls; Susan Flottum Zurcher of Wales; and Tom Flottum of Turtle Lake.