Dec. 23, 2011
DAVIS--A memorial scholarship fund to benefit entomology students at the University of California, Davis, has been set up by the family and friends of Marvin Kinsey, 80, of Davis, a noted researcher in the Department of Entomology who died Dec. 11, 2011 after a long bout with cancer.Marvin Kinsey, longtime senior research associate at the Department of Entomology, University of California, Davis, died Dec. 11, 2011. A noted researcher, hee joined the department in 1960, retiringKinsey joined the UC Davis Department of Entomology in 1960, retiring in 1997. During his career, he worked with faculty members Don McLean, Les Ehler and Diane Ullman. While at UC Davis, he applied his knowledge of electronics, machinery and aphid feeding behavior to inventing an electronic monitoring system, which is still in use today.
The electronic monitoring system allows scientists to study intricate behaviors of piercing and sucking insects inside plant tissues. "The depth of this scientific legacy is perhaps best measured by the many publications that grew from it—there are nearly 400 publications reporting on original research emerging from the use of electronic monitoring," his family related.
His work led to a national scientific symposium in his honor in 1994.
"Marv had a tremendous impact on the lives of people in the entomology community," said Ullman, who was the last professor to work with him before his retirement. (Kinsey retired after helping her build her lab and start her research program at UC Davis.)
"During his tenure at UC Davis, he helped countless new faculty, postdoctoral researchers, staff and students succeed at their research," said Ullman, who joined the UC Davis faculty in 1995 and is now a professor and associate dean for undergraduate academic programs in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. "He was always ready to listen and extended a helping hand far beyond the lab and the university. He was a fierce proponent of lifelong learning, it is so fitting that a scholarship is being created to honor his memory. Without a doubt, Marv’s incredible creativity, good humor, kindness and compassion will long be missed."
A native of Glendive, Mont., Kinsey received his bachelor's degree in entomology from UC Berkeley in 1960.
Those wishing to contribute to the Marv Kinsey Memorial Scholarship Fund may write a check to the UC Davis Foundation, with the subject line, Marv Kinsey Memorial Scholarship Fund, and mail it to
Dean's Office, UC Davis College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
Attention: Development
University of California, Davis
One Shields Ave., Davis, CA 95616.Below is the obituary that the family prepared. It was published in the Daily Democrat, Woodland, on Dec. 23, 2011.
Marvin Kinsey in his earlier years at UC Davis.Marvin George Kinsey
Aug. 27, 1931 - Dec. 11, 2011Marv Kinsey was born August 27, 1931 in Glendive, Montana to hard working ranching parents where he was raised, one of ten children. He often spoke of the remarkable nature of his parents and the incredible energy, hard work and grace he found in his mother. With his beloved wife, Kaye Kinsey, he raised three beautiful children, Rene, David and Sandra and had the opportunity to enjoy four wonderful grandchildren, Matt and Chris Wigen, and Sarah and Michael Kinsey. Marv faced cancer multiple times in his life and after a courageous battle with metastatic melanoma, Marv died, surrounded by family on December 11, 2011.
From his earliest days on the ranch in Montana, Marv was a keen observer of the natural world. Born with a deep curiosity about how things work and an extraordinarily creative mind, Marv was fascinated by the world of plants, insects and other creatures. Among his gifts was an ability to invent tools and machines to improve the outcome of a wide diversity of tasks. After completing his B.S. in entomology at UC Berkeley in 1960, Marv began his pursuit of a life-long interest in the feeding behavior of insects, in particular those that transmit pathogens between plants. In his role as Senior Research Associate in the Department of Entomology, University of California Davis, he applied his knowledge of electronics, machinery and aphid feeding behavior to invention of an electronic monitoring system. This system allowed scientists to study intricate behaviors occurring inside plant tissues when aphids and other piercing-sucking insects feed. Since its inception and the first publication in 1964, this machine guided research conducted across the globe. The concepts underlying Marv’s invention held true as investigators and electrical engineers built on the original design to create increasingly contemporary machinery. The depth of this scientific legacy is perhaps best measured by the many publications that grew from it—there are nearly 400 publications reporting on original research emerging from the use of electronic monitoring. The respect of the scientific community for this work led to a national symposium in 1994 in honor of Marv. To this day, national and international research meetings on insect feeding behavior are dominated by work done with the modern versions of Marv’s incredibly creative invention.
Although electronic monitoring of insects was a revolutionary discovery, Marv’s creativity extended far beyond this work. He was among the first on the UC Davis campus to master the use of scanning and transmission electron microscopy. His investigations and those of multiple graduate students that he supported provided the world with most of what is known about the internal anatomy and functioning of the mouthparts and feeding structures in piercing-sucking insects. He helped countless graduate students and faculty create the strategies and technologies they needed to accomplish virtually any task in their research. Many people owe their success to his unselfish sharing of creative ideas, his patient mentoring, wisdom and good humor. No matter how important his research ideas and approaches might have been, his compassion, big heart and beaming smile were pivotal to the well-being of many, many people in the campus community and beyond. In the words of an entomology colleague, Marv was “one of the most respected, talented, dedicated and well-liked staff members ever to work in our department. ….he contributed to our department’s heart and the university’s soul.”
In spite of his dedication to scientific pursuits, Marv’s family was always his top priority. He loved nothing more than working with his children on all sorts of projects from 4-H animal projects to science fair experiments. He remained deeply involved in their lives and extended his love and attention to his grandchildren and many other young people. Each year, Marv and Kaye took a trek together, exploring and camping and visiting friends and relatives. As the grandchildren grew older, they were included on the very best of adventures to the wilderness of Alaska and the mountains and plains of the lower U.S. states and Canada. Avid gardeners with a gift for growing the healthiest, most productive plants, Marv and Kaye made their 1 acre just outside of Davis into a paradise of vegetables, fruit trees and flowers. With the occasional sheep and always a flock of chickens, one could forget that the city of Davis began just one mile to the east. Marv was immensely proud of the work Kaye does as an educator and found deep joy in helping people from all walks of life reach for their dreams. He had a fabulous sense of humor and was known for telling fantastic jokes. His love, compassion and laughter will be deeply missed by his family and a plethora of friends and colleagues who have benefited from the rich legacy he leaves.
At his request no services will be held. In lieu of flowers, please support the Marv Kinsey Scholarship Fund for Entomology Students. Checks should be made out to the UC Davis Foundation with the subject line Marv Kinsey Scholarship Fund. Please send to:
Dean's Office, UC Davis College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
Attention: Development
University of California, Davis
One Shields Ave., Davis, CA 95616.
--Kathy Keatley Garvey
Communications specialist
UC Davis Department of Entomology
(530) 754-6894
