We are extremely saddened to share with you that Dr. Alexander M. Cruickshank, Director Emeritus of the Gordon Research Conferences, died June 10, 2017 at the Royal Westerly Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. He was 97 years old.

Dr. Cruickshank played a leadership role in expanding the breadth and reach of GRC, and served as a friend and mentor to a generation of scientists. During his time as Director, Alex emphasized the importance of ongoing communities discussing cutting-edge science.

Alex made sure GRC attendees were actively participating to move the frontiers of research forward – and that conferees were collegially challenging the ideas being presented. Alex was well known for his hands-on approach to the conferences and could be seen assisting with the slide projector, spending time with attendees during afternoon activities, and even sampling food in the kitchen to make sure it was just right before it was served to participants.

Alex dedicated his career to GRC and worked for our organization for 46 years. Both he and his wife Irene joined the organization in 1947 and he served as its Director from 1968-1993. In these years Alex expanded conferences geographically to California and Europe, and grew the meeting portfolio in scientific breadth as well. Today we've lost an important part of the GRC family. Alex helped nurture, develop and mature many of our GRC communities. He leaves behind lifelong friends and an important scientific legacy.

He was a truly wonderful and much-loved man! We will miss him.