A true friend of the Great Lakes has passed away, leaving a legacy of accomplishments to protect and conserve one of the most important ecosystems on Earth. Joseph Leach graduated from the Ontario Agricultural College (Guelph, Ontario) in 1954. While his early career focused on banking, he eventually returned to academia and, in 1969, received his doctorate at the University of Aberdeen, Scotland. As a research scientist in the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources in Wheatley, Ontario, Joe’s research interests were holistic in nature and focused on the lower food web of Lake Erie with respect to sustaining the sport and commercial fisheries of the lake. He also was a strong advocate for comparative ecology, and using this framework played a major role in leading research efforts to quantify the effects of the zebra mussel invasion on the structure and dynamics of Great Lakes food webs.
Joe served as IAGLR president and organized its 21st annual conference in 1978. He received IAGLR’s Anderson-Everett Award (1992) and Lifetime Achievement Award (2008) for his dedication and commitment to Great Lakes research. He served on many committees of both the Great Lakes Fishery Commission and the International Joint Commission and thus played a major role in integrating fisheries and water quality management. Perhaps his greatest contribution was his ability to bring people with different expertise together to develop the science framework for the implementation of the ecosystem management approach endorsed by both Canada and the United States.
With his smile and wisdom, along with a dram of good scotch, Joe stands among the very best of Great Lakes researchers. Thank you, Joe, for your friendship and your many contributions. Your love for the Great Lakes will always be an inspiration for all of us.