11/27/00

Mark Shwartz, News Service (650) 723-9296;
e-mail: mshwartz@stanford.edu

Baldridges honored by the American Cetacean Society

Alan Baldridge, former librarian at Stanford's Hopkins Marine Station, and his wife, Sheila, were recognized for their lifetime commitment to marine conservation during the 7th International Conference of the American Cetacean Society (ACS) in Monterey on Nov. 17.

The Baldridges were honored during a special evening reception held at the Monterey Bay Aquarium near the Hopkins campus. ACS paid tribute to the couple for their "continued and seemingly tireless educational efforts" to promote an understanding of the marine environment ­ particularly in the Monterey Bay area, where the Baldridges have lived for more than 30 years.

Alan served as Hopkins librarian from 1966 until his retirement in 1993. He helped raise funds for construction of the Harold A. Miller Library of Marine Biology, which opened at Hopkins in 1989.

From 1978 until 1994, Sheila was librarian at the California State Universities' Moss Landing Marine Laboratories located about 20 miles north of Hopkins.

"In addition to running the libraries of the two primary marine laboratories on the Monterey Bay, they are both well-respected naturalists specializing in marine mammals and birds," said Joe Wible, Hopkins librarian since 1993.

"Alan co-authored a book on gray whales and has served as a naturalist on a number of Stanford alumni trips," he added.

As longtime environmental activists, the Baldridges led a drive to create the Elkhorn Slough National Marine Estuarine Reserve at Moss Landing, Calif., and supported creation of the 5,300-square-mile Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary in 1992.

They also served on the board of the Friends of the Sea Otter and helped found the local chapter of ACS, an international organization that works to protect whales, dolphins and porpoises.

During the ceremony, the Baldridges received a metal sculpture of spinner dolphins by artist Randy Puckett. An anonymous donor also gave $10,000 to establish a graduate student research grant in the Baldridges' name. For information on the grant, contact the Monterey Bay Chapter of ACS, P.O. Box HE, Pacific Grove, CA 93950.

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By Mark Shwartz