Henry C. Eichhorn

MADISON - Henry C. Eichhorn of Madison, WI, passed away at home on 2 January 2010 after a short illness. He was born in Baltimore, MD, on 29 May 1920. Since a youth, Henry (better known as Ike) was greatly interested in biology and classical music. He was very active in the Natural History Society of Maryland. After completing high school at City College, Ike attended the University of Maryland until he was expelled, for as a pacifist he refused to take ROTC. When Pearl Harbor was attacked, Ike’s attempts to enlist were turned down. In 1944 he was drafted and stationed in India, where he tested aviation fuel before it was sent north in pipelines. In 1946, Ike received a commendation for his exceptionally outstanding performance in coordinating the repossession of several million gallons of petroleum products. Ike was recalled during the Korean Conflict. He served at Camp McCoy, Sparta, WI and Fort Hood, TX. Upon completion of his military duty, Ike finished his undergraduate work and moved to Madison to attend graduate school at the University of Wisconsin. His career responsibilities at the UW Laboratory of Limnology included planning research projects and programs; writing research proposals to fund graduate students and the construction of a new laboratory; providing technical and biostatistical advice to students; and editing reports and studies for publication in professional journals. Ike never wrote his thesis, but he admonished students to complete theirs. Other career work was performed at the National Fisheries Center and Aquarium in Washington, D.C., in the Eutrophication Studies Program at UW, and at the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. From 1972 until retirement in 1987, Ike worked at the U. S. Army Environmental Hygiene Agency at Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, where he served as the Chief of the Aquatic Biology Branch. Retirement brought Ike back to Wisconsin. For many years, until May of this year, he participated in the Senior Guest auditor program for Wisconsin residents over 60. Ike is survived by his wife of almost 47 years, Susan E. Jordan, his stepmother Elizabeth A. Eichhorn of Baltimore, his sister Mary Eichhorn Fletcher of Canton, CT, his brother Robert C. Eichhorn of Baltimore, his mother-in-law Martha H. Jordan of Madison, and by many beloved brothers- and sisters-in-law, nieces, and nephews. Memorial services are private. A celebration of Ike’s life will take place in the Spring. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Ike’s memory may be made to the Society of Friends, 1704 Roberts Court, Madison, WI 53711 or to HospiceCare, 5395 E. Cheryl Parkway, Madison, WI 53711. “…if you should forget me for a while…do not grieve…better by far you should forget and smile than that you should remember and be sad.” Christina Georgina Rossetti.