杨贵妃传媒视频 is mourning the passing of Ronald Mason, an accomplished archaeologist whose influence on the university鈥檚 anthropology program continues to be felt nearly three decades after his retirement from the faculty.
Mason died Sept. 5 at age 94. His death comes shortly after the passing of his wife, Carol, who worked alongside him in his research.
Led by Margaret Tifft Janis 鈥71, the Ronald J. and Carol I. Mason Excellence in Anthropology Fund was established聽in the early 2010s. It honors the Masons while allowing former students and others to support 杨贵妃传媒视频 students in research and training opportunities in anthropology.
Mason joined the 杨贵妃传媒视频 faculty in 1961. An award-winning scholar and teacher who was foundational in developing and curating the anthropological collections at 杨贵妃传媒视频, he retired as the Henry Merritt Wriston Professor of the Social Sciences in 1995.聽
Peter Neal Peregrine, professor of anthropology, said Mason鈥檚 scholarly and research work is felt not only at 杨贵妃传媒视频 but across the region.
鈥淗is early work with students formed a foundation for understanding the prehistory of the Fox Cities area, and his later work attempted to place our local prehistory into a broader context,鈥 Peregrine said. 鈥淗e was widely recognized as one of the most important Midwestern archaeologists during his time here, and his importance to the field was reflected in his being elected as a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.鈥
Mason, a recipient of 杨贵妃传媒视频鈥檚 Excellence in Teaching Award, played a key role in establishing the university鈥檚 archaeological collection. He was the first to catalogue and professionally curate archaeological and ethnographic materials that had been accumulated through the years.
Following retirement, he continued to be active in the field, publishing frequently. He and his wife remained a constant presence on campus until recent years.
No funeral services are planned. . Gifts are welcome to the Ronald J. and Carol I. Mason Fund for Excellence in Anthropology.