A Warm Tribute to Our Dear Friend and Colleague, Professor Emeritus Donald Bruce
Aulenbach (Aulie) from Professor Emerita Lenore S. Clesceri and Professor Emeritus
Nicholas L. Clesceri of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, USA
When we returned from our post-docs in Switzerland in 1965, to begin teaching at
Rensselaer, Don was among the first friends we developed. His help and friendship will
always be highly valued. His good humor is legendary.
He was very involved in the research at Lake George and the development of the Lake
George Water Research Center (LGWRC) with Nick.
Reflecting on the early days, Don and Nick made quite a few trips to Gull Bay in Putnam
County on the eastern shore of Lake George, specifically, to Smith Bay. It seemed that each
time we ventured forth, we encountered snow, which we could have anticipated at that time
of the year. But, Nick and Don never faltered! Lots of Fun. . .
As things started to take shape, President Richard Folsom and Provost Clayton
Dohrenwend encouraged us to see what might occur. Nick and Don had many meetings
with them, keeping them “in the loop.” Then, Professor Steve Wiberley (and later, Provost)
was tasked by Provost Dohrenwend to work with us on developing the LGWRC. As fate
would have it, Steve viewed the Gull Bay area for suitability for a fledgling LGWRC with
Nick and Don. . .In a SNOW STORM!
Through President Folsom, we made connections with RPI Board of Trustee Member,
Mr. Harold Strang, retired GE VP, who lived in summers at Smith Bay. In addition,
Mr. Strang owned an adjacent former camp for youngsters. Mr. Strang offered his camp
as a location to initiate LGWRC research. As was standard, and expected, at that stage, Nick
and Don were the principle salesmen.
BUT, this historical sojourn would take many more pages to describe; however, a few
things alert the brain cells, namely, “around-the-clock” lake water sampling, “through-theice” water sampling, and stream sampling, to name just a few things that Don did so well.
Bringing things to the present, this ultimately led to RPI’s Darrin Fresh Water Institute,
located in Bolton Landing, NY, on the western shore of Lake George.
Don’s research was far-ranging, from Radiological Health, to Public Health to his
forward-thinking work with his students on the Village of Lake George Wastewater Treatment Facility. He literally probed the subsurface as he studied the sand infiltration beds,
which functioned as tertiary treatment for this system. This research placed Don in a small
cadre of fellow researchers from around the world who were seeking understanding of sand
infiltration capability for tertiary treatment. He collaborated with them and presented at
specialty conferences.
Lastly, Don’s contributions in the Department’s educational endeavors were manifold.
He was a key figure in the Department gaining the first-in-country ABET accredited degrees
in Environmental Engineering. Nick and Don team-taught a number of courses, which was
always constructive for the Department’s reputation. Don also taught a Limnology course at
the Lake George facility, which Lenore inherited.
On a personal note from Nick, in addition to the brief notes above, Don was a Father,
Family man, Educator, Patriot and God-Fearing human being. He faithfully served his
Church in Clifton Park, NY, for decades. How full a life is that!!
I consider him a BROTHER.
Aulie, Rest In Peace, dear friend.
References
1. Sawyer CN (1966) Basic concepts of eutrophication. J Water Pollution Control Fed 38(5):737
2. Sakamoto M (1966) Primary production by phytoplankton community in some Japanese lakes
and its dependence on lake depth. Arch Hydrobiol 62:1
7 Lake Restoration
317
Aulenbach (Aulie) from Professor Emerita Lenore S. Clesceri and Professor Emeritus
Nicholas L. Clesceri of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, USA
When we returned from our post-docs in Switzerland in 1965, to begin teaching at
Rensselaer, Don was among the first friends we developed. His help and friendship will
always be highly valued. His good humor is legendary.
He was very involved in the research at Lake George and the development of the Lake
George Water Research Center (LGWRC) with Nick.
Reflecting on the early days, Don and Nick made quite a few trips to Gull Bay in Putnam
County on the eastern shore of Lake George, specifically, to Smith Bay. It seemed that each
time we ventured forth, we encountered snow, which we could have anticipated at that time
of the year. But, Nick and Don never faltered! Lots of Fun. . .
As things started to take shape, President Richard Folsom and Provost Clayton
Dohrenwend encouraged us to see what might occur. Nick and Don had many meetings
with them, keeping them “in the loop.” Then, Professor Steve Wiberley (and later, Provost)
was tasked by Provost Dohrenwend to work with us on developing the LGWRC. As fate
would have it, Steve viewed the Gull Bay area for suitability for a fledgling LGWRC with
Nick and Don. . .In a SNOW STORM!
Through President Folsom, we made connections with RPI Board of Trustee Member,
Mr. Harold Strang, retired GE VP, who lived in summers at Smith Bay. In addition,
Mr. Strang owned an adjacent former camp for youngsters. Mr. Strang offered his camp
as a location to initiate LGWRC research. As was standard, and expected, at that stage, Nick
and Don were the principle salesmen.
BUT, this historical sojourn would take many more pages to describe; however, a few
things alert the brain cells, namely, “around-the-clock” lake water sampling, “through-theice” water sampling, and stream sampling, to name just a few things that Don did so well.
Bringing things to the present, this ultimately led to RPI’s Darrin Fresh Water Institute,
located in Bolton Landing, NY, on the western shore of Lake George.
Don’s research was far-ranging, from Radiological Health, to Public Health to his
forward-thinking work with his students on the Village of Lake George Wastewater Treatment Facility. He literally probed the subsurface as he studied the sand infiltration beds,
which functioned as tertiary treatment for this system. This research placed Don in a small
cadre of fellow researchers from around the world who were seeking understanding of sand
infiltration capability for tertiary treatment. He collaborated with them and presented at
specialty conferences.
Lastly, Don’s contributions in the Department’s educational endeavors were manifold.
He was a key figure in the Department gaining the first-in-country ABET accredited degrees
in Environmental Engineering. Nick and Don team-taught a number of courses, which was
always constructive for the Department’s reputation. Don also taught a Limnology course at
the Lake George facility, which Lenore inherited.
On a personal note from Nick, in addition to the brief notes above, Don was a Father,
Family man, Educator, Patriot and God-Fearing human being. He faithfully served his
Church in Clifton Park, NY, for decades. How full a life is that!!
I consider him a BROTHER.
Aulie, Rest In Peace, dear friend.
References
1. Sawyer CN (1966) Basic concepts of eutrophication. J Water Pollution Control Fed 38(5):737
2. Sakamoto M (1966) Primary production by phytoplankton community in some Japanese lakes
and its dependence on lake depth. Arch Hydrobiol 62:1
7 Lake Restoration
317