Jay B. Kunkle

Jay B. Kunkle, Professor of Biology sciences, author, waterman, beloved husband and father, died at his home on Sunday morning August 7, 2005 after an intense battle with lung cancer. Jay was born March 3, 1947 in Connellsville, PA. He was the son of Robert F. and Kathryn Miller Kunkle. He attended Germantown Elementary and Annapolis Junior High School. In 1965, Jay graduated from Annapolis High School, where his father was director of choral music. He earned an Associates Degree at Anne Arundel Community College in 1969. He then transferred to Salisbury State College and earned his Bachelors and Master''s Degrees in Biology. Jay was an instructor of Biology for 5 years at Salisbury State College before transferring to Anne Arundel Community College, where he taught for 26 years. While there, he coordinated the General Biology Program, taught Zoology and was the senior author of the General Biology Laboratory Manual. Jay was also an adjunct faculty member at Chesapeake Community College. In 1992 he was awarded the Teaching Excellence Award by the Student Association of Anne Arundel Community College, an indication of the esteem held for him by the students of the college. As a member of the Biology Department, he excelled at mentoring the average student to succeed well beyond their initial expectations. A key field scientist for the College''s Environmental Center, he worked on the Poplar Island underwater grass restoration, a project which received national recognition and a letter from the Bush Whitehouse. He was also instrumental in developing protocols to conduct large-scale grass restoration in the mid-Chesapeake Bay, an effort that will leave a lasting legacy for the waters he loved so much. Jay worked with leading universities as a Chesapeake Bay Researcher on other projects as well, including Oyster Life Cycle Distribution, Yellow Perch Studies in the upper Chesapeake Bay, Striped Bass Stock Assessment, Blue Crab Management and the training of undergraduate students in the field of Estuarine Biology. Jay was an avid waterman. Dubbed "Captain K", his joys included crabbing and fishing up and down the Chesapeake Bay watershed with loved ones. His favorite spots included Annapolis, Shippings Creek, the Eastern Shore of Virginia, the Bay proper and the Choptank and Wye Rivers. For 10 winters, Jay devoted his time skippering the rescue boat for the Annapolis Frostbite Races. After a good day on the water he loved to come home and enjoy his catch with his friends and family. When he was not on the water, summers saw Jay working in the garden and tending his fruit trees. Many in the area knew him as "The Peach Man" at the summer Farmer''s Market in Easton, as well as Railway Market. Always a supporter of education, peach sales proceeds were donated to the Ecology classes at Easton High School. Jay''s legacy will be remembered by his wife of 29 years, the former Martha A. Czeh and his two sons, Andrew and Nicholas Kunkle, his brother Noel Kunkle and wife Suzie and his sister Kay Rowland and her husband Donald. Family will receive friends for a Memorial Gathering on Saturday, August 13, 2005 from 12:00 noon until 1:00 p.m. at Fellow''s Helfenbein & Newnam in Centreville, MD. A Memorial Service will begin at 1:00. In keeping with Jays'' wishes, dress is casual. Donations to honor Jay''s memory can be made to Easton Shore Oncology Center, 509 Idlewild Avenue, Easton, MD 21601.