Claude Gordon Alexander, 1924-2012, resident of Menlo Park, was born in San Diego on September 15, 1924 and died in Redwood City on March 17, 2012 from congestive heart failure. After returning from Army service in France during World War II, Alex received his BA and MA from Oregon State University and his PhD in Zoology from UCLA in 1955. After accepting a faculty position at San Francisco State University, Alex and his family moved to the Bay Area, first living in Palo Alto, then San Carlos, Woodside and finally, Menlo Park. While at SF State, Alex conducted research on the physiology and parasites of sharks, skates and rays as well as fresh water fish. Research trips took him to Victoria University in Wellington, New Zealand and to Enewetak, Marshall Islands. But his great love was mentoring several generations of biology students at SF State until his retirement in 1987. He always thought of his students as colleagues; the doors to his office and lab were always open, even on nights and weekends, to accommodate his working students' difficult schedules. Active in sports all his life; Alex played basketball for the Army and OSU and organized weekly pickup games SF State. A high school track and field star, he continued to run or walk several miles a day and completed a couple of Bay to Breakers, several 10Ks and half-marathons and one marathon. In retirement, Alex pursued his long-deferred interest in the arts, studying creative writing and art at Canada College. He served on the Vestry at Christ Church, Portola Valley and was an active member of their weekly Men's Breakfast group. He and his wife Betsy enjoyed vacations at their condo in the Bay of Islands, New Zealand. Alex is survived by his wife, his son Mark, his daughters Leigh and Kay and five grandchildren. Services will be held on Saturday, April 14 at 11 am at Christ Church, Portola Valley, with a reception to follow. The family requests that memorial gifts be sent, payable to "UCorp SF State" with "Bio-Alexander" on the memo line, to Michael A. Goldman, Chair, Department of Biology, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA 04132-1722. Donations to this fund will help the Department continue to provide the full range of biology programs amid continuing budget challenges.

Published in San Jose Mercury News/San Mateo County Times on April 1, 2012.

Note: US Army, WWII.