Mendoza, Guillermo 1909-2000

MENDOZA

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 9/12/2009 at 17:04:19

GUILLERMO MENDOZA

Guillermo (Bill) Mendoza, 91, former Grinnellian and professor of zoology at Grinnell College for 34 years, died Dec. 5 of renal infection complicated by diabetes in Laurel Creek Convalescent Hospital, Fairfield, Calif.

As his fondest lifetime memories were of the countless pleasures and many friendships in the Grinnell community, his family has requested that gifts in his memory be directed to the Mendoza Memorial Fund at Grinnell College to be used for the benefit both of the college and the Grinnell community.

Born in Mexico City in 1909, his family moved to California in 1914 during the Mexican Revoltion and he attended high schools in Stockton and Long Beach before moving to the Midwest in 1928. After earning both undergraduate and graduate degrees at Northwestern University, Evanston, Ill., he taught zoology at his alma mater between 1940 and 1943. Summer studies were spent in Woods Hole, Mass., and Friday Harbor near Seattle, Wash.

A zoologist specializing in the study of a variety of fresh-water fishes unique to Central Mexico, Mr. Mendoza's long college career included research and teaching biology, comparative anatomy, embryology, genetics and, later in his career, electron microscopy. Between 1943 and his retirement from Grinnell in 1977, he served as pre-med advisor to hundreds of future physicians and spent sabbatical leaves at the University of California, Berkeley; Argonne National Laboratories, Chicago, Ill.; the Estacion Linnological, Patzcuaro, McHoacan, and the Instituto de Biologia, Mexico City.

Author of numerous research papers, he also served on many committees in a variety of professional societies, and was chairman of either the department of biology or the division of natural sciences at Grinnell during 12 years, as well as Stone Professor of Biology from 1961 until his retirement.

He also was a frequent speaker in the Grinnell communtity on everything from travels in Mexico to the impact of emerging biological discoveries ranging from Grinnell area churches, schools and service club meetings. He also was a PTA officer, a supporter of Grinnell Band Boosters and a member of the United Methodist Church as well as hospital drives and other community service organizations.

Following his retirement, he and his wife Olivia moved to San Antonio, Texas, where he taught part-time for several years at the University of Texas, San Antonio. In 1995 the Mendozas moved to Suisun, Calif., to be near family members and grandchildren.

He is survived by his wife Olivia; two sons, Carlos Mendoza, Denver, Colo., and Guillermo Mendoza, Fairfield, Calif, and three grandchildren.