The National Museum of Natural History held a memorial tribute on April 10, 2007. A PowerPoint slide show was prepared for that event to display selected photographs of Jim.

It is with deep sadness that we inform you that Jim Luhr, Geologist in the Department of Mineral Sciences, passed away unexpectedly on January 1, 2007, at the age of 53. He died peacefully in his sleep. He directed the Smithsonian's Global Volcanism Program starting in 1995, and was well-known for elegantly written descriptions of insightful, multi-pronged studies of his beloved Mexican volcanoes.

Another website for Jim has been created by his friends. That site contains additional information about memory books that are being compiled and how to contribute to a college fund for his daughters. Memories may be sent by email to JimLuhrMemories@gmail.com. Please sign your contribution and provide a bit of identification; photos are also welcome.

A service was held on January 6, 2007, at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Silver Spring. The family suggests donations to Shepherd's Table, Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice, or Heifer International.

Condolences sent to will also be passed along to his family.

The following was published in the January 2007 issue of the Bulletin of the Global Volcanism network.

Jim Luhr, director of our volcano program since 1995, passed away unexpectedly in his sleep on 1 January 2007. He was 53 years of age, and died of complications from influenza. He leaves behind his wife Karen Prestegaard, a professor at the University of Maryland, and their two school-aged daughters.

One of Jim's legacies is the greatly expanded public access to Smithsonian volcano data resulting from his promotion of the growth of our widely used website. In the mid-1990s, he helped create a new exhibit hall exposing millions of visitors each year to displays with significant emphasis on geophysics, plate tectonics, and volcanology (giving visitors electronic access to geologic and geophysical information).

Jim acted as chief editor of the graphically stunning book Earth. He also co-edited the book "Paricutin: The Volcano Born in a Mexican Cornfield," an outgrowth of his many detailed field and laboratory studies of Mexican volcanoes. Jim was well known for his work on the petrology of young volcanic rocks and the atmospheric impact of eruptions.

The following was published in the Washington Post on January 4. A Guest Book feature is included at that site.

JAMES F. LUHR

May 13, 1953 - January 1, 2007

James Francis Luhr, 53, of University Park, MD, died peacefully at home on January 1, 2007 of complications from influenza.

A renowned geologist, he was director of the Global Volcanism Program at the Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution. Jim was a magnet for children and was the fun-loving and devoted father of daughters Sigrid, 17, and Mei-Mei (Kristina), 9. He was married for 20 years to Karen Prestegaard, whom he met at UC Berkeley when both were pursuing doctoral degrees in Geology.

Jim was a passionate scientist, committed to deepening public awareness of scientific discovery. He helped to curate the Museum's enormously popular Hall of Geology, Gems and Minerals; collaborated extensively with Mexican scientists during years of research in that country; and chaired the Museum's mineralogy department for five years. He popularized science in every available media: as editor of the books "Earth" (2004) and "Paricutin: The Volcano Born in a Mexican Cornfield" (1993); in exhibitions; through online and CD-Rom products; and even with a "build your own volcano" kit for children. Among his achievements, Jim contributed to the development of early-warning systems to protect trans-Pacific flights from the effects of volcanic eruptions.

He was creative and resourceful. During one trip to Mexico, his luggage failed to arrive. Rather than slow his research, Jim wrapped his well-worn Birkenstock sandals with newspaper and duct-tape so he could climb the rough terrain.

With his bushy beard, strangers (and friends) often teased that the Ph.D. scientist resembled a member of the band ZZ Top. When his beard began to whiten, strangers began calling out "Hey, Santa!" instead. Jim embraced the new persona, and wore a Santa cap on a Christmas Day flight with his family, to the delight of young passengers.

An accomplished musician, Jim played fiddle for the Greentop Ramblers, a local Irish music group. For the past three years, he was problem-solver-in-chief (aka volunteer president) of Adelphi Pool in Maryland. He was an active member of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Silver Spring and regularly helped to feed the homeless at Shepherd's Table in Silver Spring. Jim extended his belief in the power of communities to all aspects of his life.

Jim leaves his grieving parents, Robert and Mary Luhr of Grayslake, IL; four brothers, a sister and his Prestegaard family. He grew up in suburban Chicago and earned a B.S. in geology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champagne.

Selected quotes from condolence messages:

It has been the greatest experience in my life working with Jim.

He was an outstanding petrologist, and his reputation for meticulous experimental work was an enormous asset.

I identified strongly with his self-effacing manner and dry wit.

One of the best persons I've met.

He was at once the most gentle soul one can ever hope meet and at the same time an astute observer of people and the human condition.

He questioned authority in a manner that was without ego or snobbery; he was a consummate scientist.

He could laugh at himself heartily.

We should all try to emulate his courage, his wisdom, his intelligence and wit and tremendous sense of common sense.

Jim's passing is a big loss to volcanological community.

He had a real desire to know how things worked, and did not seem to care who figured it out as long as he got to hear the story.

He was always generous with ideas and samples.

The following was sent to the National Museum of Natural History community on January 3:

It is with deep sadness that we inform you that Jim Luhr, Curator in the Department of Mineral Sciences, passed away unexpectedly on January 1, 2007, at the age of 53. He died peacefully in his sleep.

Jim received his Ph.D. in 1980 from the University of California at Berkeley. He came to the Smithsonian in 1991 from Washington University in St. Louis, where he was Assistant Professor in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences. In 1995 Jim became the director of the Global Volcanism Program. He was Department Chair from 1999 to 2004, at which point he happily returned to his research on Mexican volcanoes and many other projects. He served on numerous Museum and national committees, and among his many contributions to the museum were his major role in the volcanoes section of the Geology, Gems, and Minerals exhibit hall and as chief editor for the book, Earth, published by the Smithsonian and Dorling-Kindersley. As curator, scientist, former Chair of this department, and recent Director of the Global Volcanism Project, Jim made many important and lasting contributions to this museum and to the Smithsonian Institution. Jim is survived by his wife, Karen Prestegaard, a geologist at the University of Maryland at College Park, and two young daughters.

Jim is universally remembered as a kind, thoughtful, and patient gentleman. His good nature and low-key wit were an inspiration to all of us.

The following was posted by the NMNH Research Training Program on January 3:

Among his many activities, Jim was active in the RTP. Each year he volunteered to participate in our lunch discussion focused on publishing and presenting. In his natural, honest and down-to-earth manner he shared publishing and presenting insights with students, especially the importance, yet harsh reality of peer review; movement toward electronic publishing; and confirmation that even Smithsonian scientists, himself included, often received tough comments on their submitted manuscripts - even have manuscripts rejected. Jim's candid comments proved inspiring to many RTP students, often providing motivation to them to revise and resubmit rejected manuscripts.

He had hoped to work with a new RTP student investigating glass inclusions in volcanic minerals for major elements and volatile species (water, carbon dioxide, fluorine, chlorine) using the electron microprobe and infrared spectroscopy for determination of explosive eruptive potential.

The following was published in the Washington Post on January 4:

James Francis Luhr, 53, a volcano authority at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History who edited a widely praised book called "Earth," published in 2003, died Jan. 1 at his home in University Park. He had complications from influenza.

Dr. Luhr joined the museum staff in 1991 and directed its Global Volcanism Program. His primary research focused on volcanoes in Mexico, particularly Colima. He also chaired the museum's mineralogy department.

He was editor of "Earth," a 520-page, photo-rich volume about the planet's geography.

Dr. Luhr was a native of Oak Park, Ill., and a 1975 geology graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He received a doctorate in geology from the University of California at Berkeley in 1980.

Early on, he worked in the department of earth and planetary sciences at Washington University in St. Louis.

He did volunteer work at Shepherd's Table, an organization to feed the homeless; was president of the Adelphi community pool; and was involved in parent-teacher and scouting groups. He also played fiddle and banjo in a Celtic band called the Greentop Ramblers.

Jim Luhr's Research Summary and List of Publications

This page will be updated with additional information as it becomes available.