The ANU Community was deeply saddened by the death of three long-standing and valued employees in the past week.
Professor Geoff Mercer passed away suddenly on Saturday 12 April 2014 at the peak of his career. Geoff was treasured for his personal qualities, his attentiveness as a teacher and mentor, his dedication to service and his research achievements. Geoff was passionate about applied mathematics and although he only turned his skills to infectious disease modelling when he joined the National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health (NCEPH) in early 2009 his impact was significant. As a teacher and mentor he was patient, generous with his time and ideas, and unwavering in his support. He contributed in ways above and beyond what was expected in various leadership roles including NCEPH Acting Director and Research School of Population Health Delegated Authority for HDR students. He was also very active in the applied mathematics community. In 2013 he was awarded the E.O. Tuck Medal and he has been posthumously accredited as a Fellow of the Australian Mathematical Society. Geoff is survived by his wife and two daughters.
The funeral service for Geoff will be at 12pm Thursday 24 April at the Norwood Park Crematorium with afternoon tea at University House afterwards.
Professor David G. McKendrick died last weekend after a long battle with cancer. David joined ANU in 2010 and during his time made a profound and significant contribution to the Research School of Management in the ANU College of Business and Economics. A professor of strategy and organisation, David’s primary interests were in Management, Business and Business Administration. His research focused on industrial and organisational evolution, international competition, and the emergence of organisational categories and forms. David wrote and co-authored numerous books and articles including Selection and Variation in Organizational Evolution in Industrial and Corporate Change, with Glenn R. Carroll and J. Richard Harrison and Organizational Evolution with Fuzzy Technological Boundaries: Tape Drive Producers in the World Market, 1951-1998 in Research in the Sociology of Organizations with Glenn R. Carroll, Mi Feng, and Gael Le Mens.
Prior to joining ANU, David taught at Durham University, the University of California, San Diego, the University of California, Berkeley, and the University of Texas at Dallas.
For information about the funeral and memorial service please contact ANU College of Business and Economics General Manager pat.boling@anu.edu.au
Stephen (Steve) Hughes died suddenly on the afternoon of Thursday 10 April 2014. Steve worked in the ANU Examinations, Graduations and Prizes Office for over 20 years and had a reputation for being an administrator of great integrity. He was well-known for his commitment to supporting the University’s formal examinations playing an important behind the scenes role in a key area of the University’s operations. Steve’s diligence in the preparation and security of examination papers, logistical support and examination oversight was highly regarded by his colleagues. In addition to this, he provided extensive support in the preparation of the University’s bi-annual graduation ceremonies producing testamurs and transcripts, and in ceremony preparation.
Steve was well-liked and admired across the University community for his knowledge, commitment and care. He will be greatly missed by his colleagues in the Division of Student Administration, and particularly his team mates and friends in the Examinations, Graduations and Prizes Office.
Steve's funeral will be held on Tuesday 22 April 2014 at Norwood Park Crematorium, Mitchell.
The University extends its deepest sympathy to the colleagues, friends and families of these valued employees.
Counselling services are available to all current ANU students and staff through the University Counselling Centre.
