Aaron Rosenfield

Aaron Rosenfield of Easton, MD, passed away peacefully at UMSMC in Easton, MD, on October 6, 2013. A son of the late, Joseph and Minnie Rosenfield, he was born on October 14, 1924, in Boston, MA, and grew up in Cambridge, MD. After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the Navy at 17, proudly serving his country during World War II in Panama and on a PT boat in the Solomon Islands and the Philippines. After the war, he pursued his studies, receiving bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the University of Massachusetts, and his Ph.D. at the University of Texas at Austin. During this time he also served as a teaching fellow at Brandeis University, teaching biology and microbiology. He then went to Boothbay Harbor, ME, beginning his marine research career as a program director at the laboratory there, focusing on oyster diseases, including, particularly, MSX. From Boothbay Harbor, he accepted a position at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration laboratory in Oxford as the program director of its Shellfish Mortality Program. He was then appointed director of the laboratory, and was an early leader in oyster disease studies, fish pathology, aquaculture development, and study of the effects of introduction of non-native marine species. He was a generous mentor to many young scientists. Later in his career, he served as a liaison between academia and government, with faculty appointments at Johns Hopkins, Georgetown, and the University of Maryland. He organized numerous conferences, was a writer and editor of many scientific publications, and travelled extensively internationally. He also had leadership roles in many professional organizations, and was a past president and honored life member of the National Shellfisheries Organization. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased in 2006 by his beloved wife, Clarice, whom he met in Boston and married in December of 1952. He was also predeceased by his siblings, Samuel Rosenfield, William Rosenfield and Esther Shind. He is survived by his daughter, Sandra Rosenfield of Easton. Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. at the Oxford Cemetery on Tuesday, October 8, 2013, with a visitation at 4 p.m. Tuesday at Temple B’nai Israel in Easton. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made to the Memorial Hospital Foundation, P.O. 1846, Easton, MD 21601 or to Temple B’nai Israel, 101 W. Earle Ave., Easton, MD 21601.

Aaron Rosenfield

October 14, 1924 - October 6, 2013