On behalf of the Environment Section, we would like to acknowledge an environmental health colleague, Dr. James A. Ruttenber, who died in a swimming accident this summer while on a business trip to Colima, Mexico.  Jim was 59 years old.  Jim, a PhD epidemiologist and a physician, served on the faculty of the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center in Denver since 1991 and was a member of the Environmental Studies faculty at CU Boulder.  Jim completed his PhD in human ecology at Emory University in Atlanta in 1979 and earned his MD at Emory University in 1981.  Jim began working as an epidemiologist at the Centers for Disease Control and soon became involved in a radiation effects study at the Hanford nuclear weapons reactor complex in Washington state.  Most recently, he was lead author in 2003 of a 10-year study which concluded that for some cancers, including lung cancer, Rocky Flats workers suffered mortality rates higher than the general public.  His death is being deeply felt by family, friends, colleagues, students, and workers who regarded Jim as their advocate.  In honor of Jim’s passion for international matters and education, the University has established a fund to support an exchange program between the University of Colorado and Colima University in Mexico.  Please send donations to:  The Jim Ruttenber Colima University Exchange Fund; c/o the CU Foundation; University of Colorado;  Boulder, CO 80309.

Submitted by Jill Litt, Environment Section Chair