Obituaries

Robert E. Doherty, professor and dean emeritus of the School of Industrial and Labor Relations, died Feb. 19 in the University of North Carolina Hospital. He was 83.

Doherty joined the ILR School faculty in 1961. He was associate dean in 1977-79 and later in 1980-85; acting dean in 1979-80; and dean in 1985-88. He became emeritus in 1989, retiring to Chapel Hill, N.C.

Considered a pioneer in public sector labor relations and collective bargaining, Doherty started the Institute on Public Employment at the ILR School.

Under his deanship, the ILR School's Center for Advanced Human Resource Studies (CAHRS) was launched. In addition, he set in motion a comprehensive review of the school that helped reshape the extension division and executive education initiatives, among other accomplishments.

ILR Dean Edward Lawler said of Doherty: "Bob played a critical role in the school during some difficult periods. He was a straight shooter who didn't mince words and who had a special wit that many will remember fondly."

"Bob was a role model," said David Lipsky, professor and former ILR dean. "I learned what to do as dean from him. He was firm but not stubborn, a man of integrity and principles. He would listen to what people would say, think about it thoroughly and even change his mind.

Born in Sanborn, Wis., Doherty spent his formative years in Trout Lake, Wash. After serving in the U.S. Army, 11th Airborne Division, during World War II, he completed his undergraduate education at Oregon State University, then earned a master's and doctorate in history at Columbia University.

In addition to his 29 years of professorial and administrative duties at the ILR School, he did arbitration and mediation work for the New York State Public Employee Relations Board. Friends and family say that Doherty loved life, good books and lively debate, had a quick wit and saw humor in everything.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Jo, of Chapel Hill; daughters Dr. Molly W. Anderson, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico; and Tracy A. Doherty, Eugene, Ore; stepson Timothy (Susan Tenney) Schaaff, of Sunnyvale, Calif.; stepdaughter Sarah Schaaff, of Seattle; and several grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a son, Sean R. Doherty.

Contributions in Doherty's memory can be made to a charity of one's choice. A memorial service will be announced at a later date.

Maurie Semel, professor emeritus of entomology, whose research work bolstered the Long Island potato and vegetable industries, died Feb. 10 in Bucyrus, Ohio. He was 82.

Semel was the insect expert at Cornell's Long Island Agricultural Research Laboratory at Riverhead, N.Y., from 1954 to 1988. In the heyday of vegetable farming on Long Island, Semel conducted insect-pest research that helped move farmers away from a heavy reliance on pesticides to trying biological controls. His work helped to contain the Colorado potato beetle, a major pest for fresh-market potato growers. Semel's research also helped farmers of fresh-market sweet corn and cauliflower.

Semel was born Jan. 18, 1923, in Brooklyn, N.Y. After serving in the U.S. Coast Guard during World War II, he attended New York Institute of Agriculture in Farmingdale, then Cornell, where he earned both a bachelor's degree (1949) and a doctorate (1954).

He was a decades-long member and leader of Rotary International and a Paul Harris Fellow, and he had 45 years of perfect attendance at Rotary meetings.

He is survived by his wife, Marilyn; sons Mark (Chris) of Longwood, Fla., and Brad (Yvonne) of McHenry, Ill.; daughter Valerie Spreng (James) of Bucyrus, Ohio; and three grandchildren.

Donations can be made to the Rotary Foundation, P.O. Box 75133, Chicago, IL 60675-5133, or to the Crawford County Society for Crippled Children and Adults, P.O. Box 641, Bucyrus, OH 44820.