WIGGINS, Dr. Glenn B., M.A., Ph.D.
1927 to 2013

Husband, father, grandfather, scientist, educator, friend. Following a period of declining health, Glenn Wiggins died in his sleep July 7, 2013 at his home in Bowmanville, Ontario.

Glenn is survived by Carol, his life partner and wife of 64 years, son Greg (Kathryn), daughter Linda (Steve), son Steven (Mylene), and granddaughter Margaret.

Glenn is remembered as an independent, foresighted thinker and quiet leader, throughout his life engaged with and curious about the world around him. His interests spanned all aspects of the evolution and biology of the natural world, and also the activities, politics and ecology of the human world. He was an enthusiastic and patient educator and interpreter of the natural world, to his family, friends, students and whomever showed an interest and curiosity in natural history, particularly that of fresh waters. Glenn always loved to explore, seeking out new places and new ideas, and his interests were diverse. An athlete in his younger years, he enjoyed long walks, especially in natural places, canoeing, music, dancing, reading, and good conversation. The day before he died, he lingered over caring for his menagerie of indoor plants and tropical fish.

Glenn's interest in living things began as a child. He pursued this interest, graduating with abiology degree from University of Toronto in 1949, also earning his M.A. and Ph.D. from U of T. He worked for what was then the Fisheries Research Board of Canada for a short time. In 1952 he began what was to become a distinguished 40-year career at the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM), where he became Curator of Entomology and Invertebrate Zoology, as well as a cross-appointment as Professor in the Department of Zoology at U of T. He was a dedicated scientist and educator. His research focused on the biosystematics of Trichoptera, an order of insects commonly known ascaddisflies and which play a key ecological role in freshwater food webs.He conducted fieldwork spanning several decades across North America, as well as overseas.Glenn was an international authority in his field. He is the published author of four books and over 100 articles in scientific journals and books. He served in a wide array of leadership roles within his profession.Upon his retirement from the ROM and U of T in 1992, as both Curator and Professor Emeritus, he was awarded the Gold Medal of the Entomological Society of Canada for outstanding lifetime achievement.

After retirement from the ROM he continued to research and write about caddisflies and a range of natural history topics. In writing his final book, "Biological Notes on an Old Farm: Exploring Common Things in the Kingdoms of Life" (ROM, 2009), he achieved a life goalof communicating to a broad audience his delight in the evolutionary interconnections of nature, using examples easily visible to any curious observer. This book received the 2010 Silver Medal for science from the Independent Publisher Book Awards.

In retirement Glenn continued to share his leadership talent and wisdom as a board member and advisor to the Wolfe Lake Community Association. His much-enjoyed 15-year chapter of rural living there eventually ended for health reasons. He and Carol moved to a condominium where he became a founding member of the residents’ association board of directors, serving until earlier this year.

According to Glenn's wishes, a private family ceremony will distribute his ashes in temporary pools and woodlands he knew intimately.

Glenn established a Royal Ontario Museum (ROM)endowment fund to support entomological research. Donations in his memory may be made to further support that work. Contact: ROM Foundation, “Wiggins Entomology Trust Fund”, 100 Queen's Park, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 2C6, phone 416-586-8012, www.rom.on.ca/support-us