Wakefield Dort Obituary

Wake ran the 1957 PSU Field Camp. I was among the crowd of young students. Many of us went on to teaching/research careers, mine at Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Geneva, NY. There, I established what is now a thriving Department of Geoscience. Wake would have been happy about that.
Don Woodrow

There were few decisions/opportunities that had such a profound impact on my life as when I responded to a “want ad” for graduate students to work with Professor Dort on his study of the Kansas River and tributaries for the US Army Corps of Engineers. Moving from the Mid-Hudson Valley of New York with my new bride Deborah in 1976 we set up as KU geology graduate students in an apartment in a farm house just across the Kansas River north of town. What an exciting time it was, starting anew, far from home. The Geology Department was already renown, the professors’ top notch and the other graduate students were just as hungry to learn as they were to have a good time. What incredible memories we have of those times which became the foundation of both our careers in the geosciences.
I worked under Professor Dort for several years and our group did some fantastic fluvial geomorphology science in an era before the internet, before cell phones, before personal computers. Dissertations still had to be hand typed out, and typing is how I best remember Professor Dort. I can see him standing at his counter looking out the window to the west overlooking the Lindley Hall parking lot, plinking on his manual typewriter. All my ‘official’ communications with him were manually typed out. We shared interests in geomorphology, Quaternary processes, archaeology and he always seemed to have a wry smile and a glint in his eyes that was both endearing and reassuring. Whenever I could make it back to Lawrence over the past few decades I would make an effort to check in on him. Thank you for taking a chance on me back then, I will always remember you fondly.

As a former employee of Home Instead I spent a great deal of time with Mr. Dort. He had such a full life and would share his story with me on a regular basis. Even in retirement he was teaching me things as I spent time with him. I will never look over the land the same way. I think of my time with him often and am so grateful for time I got to spend getting to know him. He is missed.

I knew Wakefield for more than 40 years, principally in our work together for the Institute of Tertiary and Quaternary Studies (TER-QUA), a University of Nebraska and University of Kansas creation.

Wake was a wonderful man and colleague who led field trips in northeastern Kansas that I happily joined from time to time.

I called him monthly after he retired from KU. We both enjoyed conversations about new research reports about Precolumbian Native American civilizations, geologic studies, and our lives in general from one month to the next.

Wake was a great friend and mentor. I will miss him very much, but will always remember him fondly.

I had the privilege to care for Wake thru Home Instead. Wake was a sweet loving man who's life spoke volumes to many. He was a very intelligent man who shared his journey freely with great passion and love. HIs sense of humor was contagious and brought many belly laughs. Wake had a very SPECIAL place in my heart and will be missed. RIP Mr. D

A good friend (together with his wife Doris) to our family for many years.
-Audrey Kamb-Studdard

As a caregiver with Home Instead, I delighted in the opportunity to spend time with Wake. To hear him share his experiences was a treat. I marveled at his zest for life even in his older years. I appreciate his life and legacy. May God bless the family with His comfort.

Chris, Missie and Family,
It was indeed an honor to care for Wake for the many years that we did. Everyone had a special place in their heart for him. Over the years, he shared such wonderful stories of his amazing adventures through his life. What an amazing journey he had. Please accept our condolences and prayers as you move forward.