On Sunday 13 August 2006, Michelle Knapp lost her life in an automobile accident.  This sudden tragedy has many of us reeling in disbelief and struggling to cope with the loss of a dear colleague and friend.  As many of you know, Michelle was in her third year at Texas Tech University as a Ph.D. student in the laboratory of Robert J. Baker.  Michelle touched the lives of many of us throughout the Mammalogy community, Smithsonian Institute, Harvard University, and Texas Tech University.  Information concerning memorial services and pictures of Michelle can be found on three websites (http://www.biol.ttu.edu/knapp_memorial.asp; www.nsrl.ttu.edu; and www.nmnh.si.edu/rtp). Michelle's obituaries may be viewed here: Ohio and Texas

A memorial service will be held in Lubbock on August 24, 2006 at 4:30 at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 1510 Avenue X, the Rev Steven Sellars and the Rev. Ryan Kuratko officiating.

Additional information can be obtained through the office of Robert J. Baker (806-742-2702).  Ask for Steve Hoofer or Robert D. Bradley as Baker is at remote site in Borneo and will not be able to return until 23 August 2006.

At the request of Michelle’s family, we have established a memorial fund in her name that will be used to support graduate student research efforts in the Department of Biological Sciences.  Please join us in honoring the memory of Michelle by making a donation to the “Texas Foundation Inc.” and indicate on the check (Memo Line) that the donation is for the “Michelle Knapp Memorial Fund.”

Donations to the memorial fund should be sent to: 
 

            Mr. Todd Rasberry
            College of Arts and Sciences
            Texas Tech University
            Lubbock, TX  79409-1034