Dear UC Davis Community,

I write to you today in shock and sadness over the untimely loss of distinguished emeritus faculty member Eldridge Moores, who died unexpectedly Sunday while on an earth and planetary sciences field trip.

Many of you know Distinguished Professor Emeritus Eldridge M. Moores. He began working at UC Davis more than 52 years ago as a founding member of the Department of Geology (now Earth and Planetary Sciences) and the College of Letters and Science. Elizabeth Spiller, dean of the College of Letters and Sciences, described him as one of those people who lives and breathes Davis.

I couldn’t agree more. LeShelle and I had dinner with Eldridge and Judy just a few weeks ago, and it was a delightful evening. Eldridge’s accomplishments as a geologist are well known. People also know he was principled and generous with his time.

Eldridge was committed to students and passionate about teaching and research. This fall, he returned to Greece with a group of graduate students, alumni and faculty, going to Macedonia where he began his field work, and they visited one of his former students there. This weekend he was on a field trip with students and faculty to visit an area where he conducted research in the greater Feather River-Lake Almanor area.

Eldridge embodied all that we are proud of here at UC Davis. His contributions to earth science remain his legacy. We are devastated over this loss but grateful to have known him.

Please keep Judy, his family, friends and colleagues in your thoughts and prayers.

Gary S. May
Chancellor