Dr. Joseph St. Jean Jr., paleontologist in the Department of Geological Sciences from 1957 to 1990, died peacefully of natural causes in Chapel Hill on March 7, in the company of his wife of 47 years, Elena.
Joe St. Jean was the world’s expert on a group of extinct, coral-like sponges called stromatoporoids, specimens of which are displayed in the Walter H. Wheeler Rock Garden between Mitchell Hall and Wilson Hall. He supervised many masters and doctoral students at UNC, including some who went on to join the faculty at the University of Maine, University of Alabama, University of Virginia’s College at Wise, Appalachian State University, and the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.
St. Jean volunteered during World War II to serve in the Navy from 1941 to 1945 on the oil tanker USS Trinity, which supplied ships and airplanes to Australia, New Guinea, and various Pacific islands. Joe was a member of UNC’s orchestra for many years, where he played violin.
He is remembered by some of his earlier graduate students as a task-master, but by many of his later students as a kind, gentle, generous adviser. The UNC Department of Geological Sciences will hold a brief memorial service for St. Jean in the Martin Lounge at Mitchell Hall at 12 p.m. on Saturday, March 31.
This notice was submitted by Joe Carter, Prof. Emeritus of Paleontology.
