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Executive Managed Research in Antarctica, Devoted Himself to Protection of Marine Mammals
August 9th, 2009 |The Washington Post | Joe Holley
John R. Twiss Jr., 71, a retired executive director of the first government agency dedicated to the protection of marine mammals, died July 23 at his home in The Plains of complications from Parkinson's disease.
Mr. Twiss's commitment to ocean and marine conservation began early in his career when he joined the National Science Foundation, where he managed scientific research in the Antarctic.
In 1974, he became the first executive director of the Marine Mammal Commission, an independent government agency dedicated to the protection of marine mammals. His work with the commission was credited with helping save such species as the Hawaiian monk seal, the West Indian manatee, the North Atlantic right whale and the California sea otter. He retired in 2000.
John Russell Twiss Jr. was born in New York. He graduated in 1956 from the private Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire and from Yale University in 1961.
He began his government career that same year with the National Science Foundation. In 1964-65, he was NSF's representative in Antarctica, in charge of about 180 scientific personnel and programs at five permanent stations and roughly 30 field camps. He also coordinated logistic support provided by the Navy.
After working for two scientific laboratories and as an NSF consultant, he rejoined the National Science Foundation in 1970, where for the next four years he served as head and special assistant to the head of the International Decade of Ocean Exploration. He directed the $17 million to $20 million annual program in support of large-scale multidisciplinary basic and applied oceanographic research.
Mr. Twiss served on the board of the Student Conservation Association from 1986 to 2009, which included a term as chairman. He helped develop the Island School and Cape Eleuthera Institute in the Bahamas, serving as a board member for 11 years.
His other board memberships included the Michael C. Rockefeller Memorial Fellowship at Harvard University, the Ocean Conservancy and the Marine Conservation Biology Institute. He was a member of the Metropolitan Club and the Army and Navy Club and the New York-based Squadron A Association, which supports cavalry history, horses and equestrian sports.
Survivors include his wife of 36 years, the former Mary Hawthorne Sheldon of The Plains; three children, John S. Twiss of Houston, Alison M. Twiss of New York and Emily Twiss of Boston; and a sister and brother.
Source: The Washington Post
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