Obituary

Former Cornell professor Frederick H. Buttel died at his home on Jan. 14 after a long and courageous battle with cancer. He earned B.S. and M.S. degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, followed by a master's in forestry and environmental studies at Yale and a doctorate in sociology at UW-Madison. He was 56.

Buttel's career in teaching and research took him to Michigan State University, Ohio State University and eventually to Cornell (1978-1992), where he spent 14 years as a professor of rural sociology and science and technology studies before joining the UW-Madison faculty.

As a leading scholar in rural sociology, Buttel was devoted to four major areas of study including the sociology of agriculture, environmental sociology, technological change in agriculture and national and global activism relating to environmental and agricultural policies. At Cornell, Buttel directed the Biology and Society Program. He was president of the Rural Sociological Society (1990-91) and of the Agriculture, Food and Human Values Society (1998-99). He was co-editor-in-chief of the journal Society and Natural Resources.

Buttel is survived by his wife, Pam Clinkenbeard, and a daughter, Allison Buttel.