Gerald Webers, a paleontologist and geologist who made links between invertebrate fossils found only in the Antarctic and Taylors Falls, Minn., died in his Roseville home Feb. 15 of complications from cancer.
The longtime Macalester College professor was 75.
In the July 12, 1979, Minneapolis Star, he said of Antarctica: "It is a spectacular place, unbelievably beautiful. The mountains are like the Grand Tetons, but much higher. There are deserts, sand dunes and salt lakes."
Webers traveled to Antarctica 19 times, beginning in the 1960s as a graduate student, as a member or leader of scientific expeditions, or as a lecturer on tourist cruises.
In 1963, he discovered what may be one of the greatest troves of invertebrate fossils on the planet, said a former student, John Craddock, who is now himself a Macalester professor of geology.
Webers made his discovery of ancient trilobites and mollusks, such as clams, in Antarctica's Ellsworth Mountains, where a series of peaks are named for Webers. The fossils date back more than a half-billion years, when life first exploded on Earth, said Craddock.
It was serendipitous that Webers chose to live in Minnesota not far from Taylors Falls, and to study invertebrates in Antarctica. He discovered that the fossil groups are much the same in the two areas and are from the same era.
Webers concluded that the two sites were likely once much closer together. Over the years, other evidence has substantiated that finding.
"From there, you can explain much of the invertebrate evolution in the world," said Craddock.
Craddock said Webers was an innovative, "fabulous teacher" too.
Long before it was customary, Webers involved undergraduate students in intensive research and field work. And he taught a variety of courses, such as geology, paleontology and oceanography.
"He was a pillar of this place for more than 30 years," said Craddock.
In 1957, he moved to the Twin Cities to pursue graduate work at the University of Minnesota after serving in Japan with the Army.
The longtime resident of Falcon Heights earned his Ph.D. in paleontology in 1964 at the university.
After doing post-doctoral work in Antarctica and Australia, he joined the faculty of Macalester in 1966.
In the 1960s, he worked on the excavation of a triceratops in Montana. The dinosaur is displayed at the Science Museum in St. Paul.
For 17 years, he was chairman of Macalester's geology department, retiring in the late 1990s. In retirement, he sailed on cruise ships bound for Antarctica and delivered lectures to the passengers. He also helped at Macalester.
He liked to fish on Leech Lake and near Port Aransas, Texas.
His son, Paul, died in 1984.
He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Kathleen, of Roseville; a daughter, Julie Rogers of Baltimore; brothers Vincent of Wilmington, Del.; Robert of Racine, Wis., and James of Grosse Pointe, Mich.; a sister, Rosemary DeMark of Racine, Wis., and two grandchildren,
Services have been held.
