Roberta Baldwin
Specialist
Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO)
Years of service at UCSD: 28

An oceanographer who loved adventure and heavy lifting, Roberta Baldwin died of brain cancer Feb. 2 at the age of 65.

Roberta started as a volunteer at SIO in 1977, but her talent led to an expanded role as a researcher, including a stint as chief scientist on a cruise to the Antarctic. In her spare time she climbed Mount Kilimanjaro and Machu Picchu, and was a competitive racewalker.

A native of Redding, Calif., Roberta raised four children while earning her bachelor's degree from San Diego State University.

"Roberta served as the energetic nucleus for our cohesive oceangoing laboratory for 30 years, instilling enthusiasm, creativity, warmth and motherly guidance to everyone with whom she interacted," said Ken Smith, her supervisor at SIO.

Ken describes Roberta as a talented chemist and biologist, meticulous editor, well-respected author, and creative equipment designer. But "Roberta's true passion was driving the forklift in all loading and offloading operations," he added.

For more about Roberta, see the obituary in the San Diego Union-Tribune.

Direct questions or comments to Shelley Herron in Portal Services, (858) 534-3505.