In Memoriam: Richard Fenske

Dr. Richard Fenske passed away on 19 May 2023. His remarkable career highlights included pioneering novel exposure science methods, which he used to protect agricultural workers and their families from pesticide exposures^1,2; cofounding the Pacific Northwest Agricultural Research Center, which he directed for over 20 years; and serving as a mentor and advisor for dozens of environmental health students, researchers, and faculty. In fact, of all his many achievements, Rich said he was most proud of the contributions his students have made to the field of environmental health.

Cynthia L. Curl and Richard Fenske.

Rich was a true Renaissance man. His educational background reflects his varied interests, which were diverse but collectively demonstrate the common thread of his humanitarianism. Rich earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Stanford University, followed by a master of arts degree in comparative religion from Columbia University and another master of arts degree in geography from the University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley). He then obtained a master’s degree in public health and a doctoral degree in environmental health sciences, also from UC Berkeley. He served as a faculty member at the University of Washington’s Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences for 28 years, and that time truly was a service. He was devoted to social justice and worked tirelessly to improve the health and well-being of vulnerable populations, particularly those living and working in agricultural communities.

As an exposure scientist, Rich developed fluorescent tracer technology that allowed visualization of pesticide penetration through personal protective equipment, improving health and safety education.^3–7 He increased our understanding of pesticide exposure pathways, including drift and take-home exposure,⁸ and he developed new tools to quantify exposure from dietary, occupational, and residential sources.⁹ He was particularly devoted to understanding and reducing children’s exposures to environmental contaminants.^10–13 And although his work was innovative and state-of-the-art, he maintained a focus on practical, implementable solutions that could be used to make a difference in real-world settings.

Rich was involved in many service activities. He was the President of the International Society of Exposure Science from 2013 to 2014 and was the Chair of the National Academy of Sciences Veterans and Agent Orange Committee. He served on several advisory committees for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and provided testimony on the health risks of pesticides to Congress and to the Washington state legislature. His legacy was acknowledged with his receipt of the Jerome J. Wesolowski Award¹⁴ from the International Society of Exposure Science in 2007, which recognizes sustained and outstanding contributions to the knowledge and practice of human exposure assessment.

Rich was also a generous and committed mentor. He understood at a deep level that his responsibility as a professor was not just to conduct high-quality research but also to share that research process with his students. He prioritized teaching and mentoring in a way that is rare and special. He was a good listener, and he considered his students individually, tailoring his advice and recommendations to their specific experiences and needs. Rich was also a lifelong advisor. For many of us, his mentorship started when we were brand-new graduate students and continued throughout our lives. For those of us lucky enough to learn from and work with Rich, he taught us skills, he inspired us, he kept us focused on the difference we were trying to make in the world, and he was also a very, very good friend.