Ole Alfred Mathisen
Ole Alfred Mathisen died March 12, 2007.

He was 88.

He was born in Oslo, Norway on Feb. 9, 1919 and studied zoology at the University of Oslo. During World War II, he served in the Norwegian Underground Service.

He came to the U.S. after the war to continue his studies at the University of Washington and earned his PhD in Fisheries Biology in 1955. He was a professor at the College of Fisheries, University of Washington, teaching and conducting research, from 1955 to 1982. During this time, he spent summers in Bristol Bay, Alaska studying the population dynamics of sockeye salmon.

In 1983, he became the dean of the College of Fisheries and Ocean Science, University of Alaska in Juneau. He served as a visiting scholar at the University of Moscow in 1960-61 and also was a Fulbright Scholar in Norway in 1965-66 and in Malaysia in 1988-89.

During his professional life, Ole participated in many scientific expeditions to regions ranging from the Bikini Atoll to the Antarctic to South America and the African continent. After his retirement from the University of Alaska, he built a log cabin near Friday Harbor on San Juan Island, Wash., where he continued his research and many professional activities.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 58 years, Randi; his two children and their spouses, Sven and Gro and granddaughters, Karine and Benedikte of Oslo, Norway, and Heidi and Klaus and grandchildren Kristiaan and Annika of Seattle; and many friends and former students all over the world.

Two memorial services will be held. On March 31, a service will be held at 1:30 p.m. in Friday Harbor Presbyterian Church, 425 Spring St., Friday Harbor, Wash. On April 3, a service will be held at 2 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, 1200 10th Ave. East, Seattle, Wash., with a reception following at Lake Union Crew, 11 East Allison St., Seattle, Wash. His ashes will be interred in Norway later this year.

Remembrances may be sent to the Nordic Heritage Museum, 3014 NW 67th St., Seattle, WA. 98117, http://www.nordicmuseum.org

— Family of Ole Alfred Mathisen