Louis Samson Kornicker
May 23, 1919 ~ February 12, 2018
Dr. Louis Samson Kornicker passed away peacefully on February 12th at the age of 98. Lou held a PhD from Columbia University and served as a Curator for Invertebrate Zoology (Crustacea) at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History for 50 years, specializing in the class Ostracoda. Acknowledged as a world authority in his field, he authored numerous research publications and was honored by having one genus and 14 species named for him. Lou was also celebrated late in life when a glacier in Antarctica was named the "Kornicker Glacier" in recognition of his contribution to Antarctic research. He traveled all over the world on scientific expeditions and also attended numerous symposiums, occasionally accompanied by his beloved wife, Beatrice, who pre-deceased him. Lou is survived by his sons Lance, Steve daughters-in-law Ellen & Phyllis; grandchildren Michelle & Steven and great-grandchildren Devin, Hailey & Chase. Lou cherished his role as family patriarch and he will be greatly missed. A viewing and memorial service will be held on Sunday, February 18th at 10am at Money & King Funeral Home, 171 Maple Ave W, Vienna, VA, followed by his interment at King David Memorial Gardens in Falls Church,VA at noon.
View current weather.
Memories Timeline
Guestbook
Sign the Guestbook, Light a Candle
Lou Kornicker was my wonderful mentor in the study of ostracods. He was truly a remarkable man and scientist, with a delightful self-deprecating sense of humor. Without his encouragement and help, I could not have pursued and completed a Ph.D . I will always be grateful to him and grateful to have known him.
I am adding a 2009 photo.
With deep appreciation, Anne Cohen
This is Todd Oakley, and I am now a professor in California. I had the pleasure to visit Lou several times at the Smithsonian while I was a graduate student at Duke in NC. After I moved here to the west coast, I didn’t see him very often, but I still made the effort to see him when I went to DC on occasion.
Lou was always so helpful, enthusiastic, kind, and knowledgeable. I marveled at his steadfast energy. His encouragement and enthusiasm helped me so much. I cannot imagine how much less the world would know about the crustaceans we study without Lou’s enormous and sustained efforts. To this day, there is a full shelf of Lou’s work in my lab here at UCSB. I will miss him.
Lou in his Smithsonian office in 2010 observing Euphilomedes
I first met Lou in 1964 when I joined the research staff of the Natural History Museum, Smithsonian Institution, and so I knew him, and loved him, for more than 50 years. Over the many years that I knew him as a friend and colleague, Lou showed that he was one of the world’s great characters – good-humored and thoughtful – as well as being a fine scientist, who published hundreds of seminal scientific papers. Lou and his beloved wife Bea enjoyed playing bridge, and for several years 12 of us would get together at one house or another and play what can best be characterized as “social bridge”! He also enjoyed playing poker.. which we would do on occasional Friday nights. Lou had a quirky sense of humor, and he was always ready for a laugh – even at his own expense. It was always a joy to be with Lou. My wife Doris and I were very sad and sorry to learn that Lou had passed away, and we send our condolences to his family. We regret very much that we are out of town, and unable to attend Lou’s memorial service. David L. Pawson.
As a close friend of Steve, Lance and Bill, I spent a LOT of time as a young adult at the Kornicker household. Lou and Bea always made me feel like I was a part of their family. Setting an extra plate at the table became a given and spending the night was a weekend norm. Their open arms and generous hospitality epitomized who they were.
Of all the meals I shared with them at their big, round kitchen table, there was not a one where at some point during the meal, Lou would ask me about things going on in my life. He would remember from one meal to another, whatever it was that I shared. He listened. He cared. He took a personal interest in me. That was incredibly important to me; something I cherish to this very day. Without a doubt, Lou was one of the most down-to-earth, non-judgmental men I’ve ever known.
That same round kitchen table hosted ridiculous games of poker, cribbage, backgammon and all things fun on a Friday or Saturday night. I always knew that at some point in time, Lou would make it a point to stop by the “game table” on his way to bed. He wanted to know (1) what we were playing (2) who was winning (or losing) and (3) how everyone’s day had been. Just a chat. Always with a smile. He’d then bid goodnight and shuffle off to bed. Time: 7:30PM. You could count on it. Such sweet memories.
I’ll miss Lou’s idiosyncrasies … All of them. But especially his obsession with collecting road maps. He had a few … thousand. For lack of available space, Lou had placed racks stuffed with maps racks – in his bathroom! Go ahead. Have a seat. Read a map. And another. And another. It was crazy. But that was who Lou was. Once he was on to something, there was no stopping him.
I don’t know that Lou ever realized how much I admired him for his work at the Smithsonian. And I know he did not realize how much I was touched the evening he gave me a signed copy of his published book.
Lou, I love you and I’ll miss you. Be at peace and tell Bea I said “hello” and ask her “what’s for dinner?”
Al
I had the pleasure of assisting Lou in his work for 23 years. His enthusiasm never wavered and his sense of humor delighted. As we moved from one office to another in the Natural History building, one object could always be found among the books and specimens that covered almost every surface – a black and white photo of his three sons.
Elizabeth Nelson