Former CRC Director, Joseph (“Joe”) Anthony Mihursky, passed away on August 24th at his Maryland home, overlooking the Chesapeake Bay. He oversaw CRC from 1989 through 1995.
Joe started working at Chesapeake Biological Laboratory (CBL) in 1962. He soon became Scientist-in-Charge of the Hallowing Point Field Station, a unit of the Chesapeake Biological Laboratory, and in this position set the early scientific standards for assembling teams of skilled researchers needed to address complex environmental problems. Dr. Mihursky and this group of scientists from CBL, US Geological Service, American University, Hood College, Lehigh University and other institutions became national leaders in studying and understanding the effects of electric power generation, testing ideas and quantifying environmental impacts with studies conducted on the Potomac and Patuxent Rivers and Chesapeake Bay.
Mihursky was a strong and informed voice supporting the innovative and very successful Maryland Power Plant Siting Program. His work led to the State of Maryland passing legislation protecting these ecosystems by controlling the amount of heat a power plant could discharge into estuarine waters. During these and later years Mihursky and his research teams published over 200 scientific journal articles, book chapters, conference proceedings and technical reports. In addition to being a leading Chesapeake Bay scientist, Dr. Mihursky was also deeply involved with the education of graduate and post-doctoral students and staff at CBL and the University of Maryland throughout his long career. He was also intensely involved with keeping Local, State and National politicians and environmental leaders informed regarding a long list of Chesapeake Bay issues ranging from microbes to striped bass to land use issues. Professor Tom Miller, current director of CBL, observed that “Mihursky was committed to communicating science to policy makers in Annapolis and Washington to help form environmental policy. He stands as an example to all who follow him at CBL”.
Mihursky took a sabbatical leave from CBL and worked on Capitol Hill in the offices of United States Senator Mac Mathias of Maryland and there played a role in developing and sustaining the Local-State-Federal EPA Chesapeake Bay Program partnership, a partnership that thrives today and is largely responsible for the recent improvements in the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem. The strong ties and relationships between State and Federal environmental management agencies we often take for granted today had some of their earliest development during Mihursky’s active years.
Twice during his active research career Mihursky was tasked with being the interim head of the Chesapeake Biological Laboratory, once from 1975-1976 and again from 1982-1983. Following this administrative activity, Mihursky became the Director of the Chesapeake Research Consortium (CRC), where he provided valuable service in integrating and organizing member institutions to tackle large and complex environmental problems around the Bay and surrounding watershed.
He held a graduated from Lafayette College in 1954, a earned both an M.S. in Microbiology (1957) and a PhD degree in Zoology/Ecology (1962) from Lehigh University. His family is organizing a memorial service that will be held at a future date. His family suggests that donations may be made in his honor to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation or the American Chestnut Land Trust.