In Memoriam Richard Lee Warren 1931–2020

Abstract

It is with great sadness that we report the passing on 12 December 2020 of Richard (“Dick”) L. Warren, our esteemed colleague, advisor, teacher, and friend who for five decades anchored the Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research’s (LTRR) archaeological dating program. Countless archaeologists, dendrochronologists, anthropologists, climatologists, geologists, historians, and students benefitted from his breadth of experience, unmatched skill, high professional standards, astounding productivity, patience, and good humor. He was always willing to expand his responsibilities in enlarging the scope of dendroarchaeological theory, method, and applications in both the laboratory and the field. Faculty, staff, students, and visitors were enlightened by his readiness to describe and demonstrate the activities encompassed byLTRR’swide-ranging activities. It would be impossible to exaggerate his contributions to the education of students and scholars in the complexities of tree-ring analysis. His equal likely will not soon be seen again. Richard was born on 04 November 1931 as the eldest son of Dr. Aubrey W. and Zetha M. (Hendrickson) Warren of Sutherland, Nebraska. After graduating from Sutherland High School, he attended Nebraska Wesleyan University, worked as a signal electrician for the railroad, and then enlisted and spent several years in the Air Force, with assignments in Germany and the USA. He then returned to school, attending the University of Tennessee and graduating from theUniversity of Arizona with a degree in Anthropology in 1962. He joined LTRR in 1964 and officially retired from the University in 2004. Not one to break completely with dendrochronology, he continued to work part time at LTRR until 2015. Richard is survived by five siblings: Jean Ganzel of Seven Lakes North NC; Barbara Hendrix of Los Alamos NM; Margaret Gail Little (and husband, James) of Los Alamos NM; Bruce Warren of Los Alamos NM; and Michael Warren of New York NY. Richard had numerous nieces and nephews, each of whom enjoyed a special and unique relationship with their Uncle Dick. In addition to his focus on dendrochronology, Dick was an avid fly fisherman who traversed the western US in search of the elusive trout. Almost as much as fishing, he appreciated theMexican food of southern Arizona and maintained an active interest in University of Arizona athletics. During his career at LTRR, Dick joined John W. Hannah, Dennie O. Bowden III, and James A. Parks to form a cadre of extraordinarily skilled dendrochronologists comprising the backbone of the