Dr. Patrick J. Mulholland
Dr. Patrick J. Mulholland died on Earth Day, Sunday, April 22, 2012, at his home in Oak Ridge, Tenn., surrounded by his family. His death followed a four-year battle against amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
Pat was born in Syracuse, N.Y in 1952. He attended Cornell University where he received a B.S. in 1973 and a M.S. in 1975. He received his doctorate from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1979. Pat spent his entire 31-year career as a research scientist in the Environmental Sciences Division at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee.
Pat was a Distinguished Scientist. He was named a Fellow of both the American Geophysical Union and of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He received a Scientific Achievement Award from Oak Ridge National Laboratory's Environmental Sciences Division in 1991, was given the Distinguished Alumni Award by the Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering at the University of North Carolina in 1995, and was cited as one of the many scientists contributing to the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007. He published over 140 papers in scientific journals including a 2008 publication in the prestigious international journal Nature. Recently, he led the development of the National Ecological Observatory Network’s aquatic experiment, which will be conducted at 10 sites across the United States over the next decade. He received the North American Benthological Society’s Award of Excellence in 2011, the highest honor the society bestows. Also in 2011 Oak Ridge National Laboratory named him Distinguished Scientist of the Year. Of his many honors and awards, he was most pleased to be named Volunteer Basketball Coach of the Year by the Oak Ridge Boys Club in 2002.
He was politically active his entire adult life, especially efforts to achieve and perpetuate protection of natural lands and waters. He volunteered for Tennessee Citizens for Wilderness Planning.
Pat had a wonderful family. He is survived by his parents, Bernard and Mary, wife, Cathey Daniels, daughter Anna, sons Rick, Joe, and Ty and grandson Charlie. In addition Pat had the support of a large extended family of brothers and sister, and nieces and nephews – including fellow ASLO member, Margie Mulholland of Old Dominion University.
Memorial contributions in his honor may be made to the ALS Association of East TN (ALSTN.org) or to any local Planned Parenthood organization (www.plannedparenthood.org). A celebration of Pat's life will be held at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, April 28, 2012, at the United Church, Chapel on the Hill in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Weatherford Mortuary is handling arrangements.