Essig Museum of Entomology People
 
 
Back to: Essig Museum of Entomology Collections


J. Maldonado Capriles  (1919-1995)
Jenaro Maldonado Capriles Jenaro Maldonado Capriles, professor of entomology and a world authority on the Miridae and Reduviidae (Hemiptera), died on November 22, 1995 in San Antonio, Texas. Maldonado-Capriles was born in Yauco, Puerto Rico, on January 17, 1919. In 1939 he received a Bachelors degree in Agriculture from the University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez campus, and in 1941 he obtained an MS. in Public Health from Columbia University. In 1952 he was awarded a Ph.D. in Medical Entomology from Ohio State University, working under the guidance of the legendary entomology professors D. J. Borror and D. W. DeLong. During his very active and productive life, Maldonado-Capriles and his colleagues published over 150 articles in scholarly journals. Days before his death he finished work on the article that follows this obituary—other manuscripts are under preparation by his co-workers. His last major work was the Systematic Catalogue of the Reduviidae of the World, published in 1990 as a special issue of the Caribbean Journal of Science (see this issue’s inside back cover for information on how to obtain this book). Over fifteen species of insects have been named in his honor. Early in 1941 Maldonado-Capriles was appointed guest lecturer in Medical Entomology at the Faculty of Tropical Medicine in San Juan, Puerto Rico. In 1942 he was appointed entomologist for the Health Department of Puerto Rico, working with the malaria control division. Until 1948 he collaborated closely with a group of malariologists in the effort that led to the eradication of malaria in Puerto Rico. During this time he was also attached to the U.S. Public Health Service, in charge of military bases throughout Puerto Rico. Although enrolled for military duty, this position kept him from active service in Europe and Asia. From 1948 to 1955 Maldonado-Capriles was Assistant Professor of Biology at the Mayaguez campus of the University of Puerto. In 1956 he became Associate Professor and achieved the status of full professor in 1959. It was during these years that his outstanding ability as teacher and researcher developed. His first important publications dealt with fleas, mosquitoes, and assassin bugs. In 1957 Maldonado-Capriles was appointed entomologist-parasitologist with the International Cooperation Agency holding the rank of Lt. Comm. with the USPHS. He travelled to West Pakistan in 1957 and to Nepal in 1958 to work on the establishment of mosquito control programs for the control of malaria. This stay in Asia was one of his most rewarding and cherished experiences, no doubt in great part because his son and daughter were born during this time. Following service in Asia, Maldonado- Capriles returned to the University of Puerto Rico to teach and work in numerous university committees. He was member of the Academic Senate from 1964 to 1966. In 1966–1967 he served as Head of the Biology Department. With the Assistance of Dr. Josefina Torres, he established the first program leading to a degree in Nursing. Later, in cooperation with Dr. Margarita Martinez Pico, he established a B.S. degree in Medical Technology. He also succeeded in establishing the Entomology Pioneering Research Laboratory, funded by the university and the federal government. A sabbatical leave in 1966 gave Maldonado-Capriles the opportunity to travel and study insect collections in Cairo, Helsinki, Prague, London, and Paris. During the first months of the sabbatical he was appointed collaborator with the United States National Museum—a relationship that persisted throughout his life, and which led to the exchange of many specimens and the publication of numerous papers. Maldonado-Capriles' excellent teaching 123 124 A. BERRIOS-ORTIZ and research skills led him to positions at other institutions in Puerto Rico, among them the Agricultural Experimental Station in Rio Piedras, the San Juan Bautista School of Medicine in Cayey, and the Ponce School of Medicine. At Cayey and Ponce he taught Histology—a subject learned at Mayaguez through intense study and guidance from his wife, a professor of anatomy and histology. At Ponce he was also Chairman of the Anatomy Department and Assistant to the Dean of Academic Affairs. Maldonado-Capriles belonged to many professional organizations, among them the Entomological Society of Washington, Beta Beta Beta (Biology Honor Society), Gama Sigma Delta (Agricultural Sciences Honor Society), Defenders of Wildlife, Worldwatch Institute, and was a charter member of the Entomological Society of Puerto Rico. In 1992 he received the highest honor conferred by the University of Puerto Rico-the title of Professor Emeritus. He had previously received an Ad Honorem appointment with the university’s Crop Protection Department. In September 1995 Maldonado-Capriles moved to Texas to undergo medical treatment. He moved into his son’s apartment with his books, insects, microscope, and computer. He continued to work until the very day he lost “this mortal battle with cancer”. Maldonado-Capriles is survived by his wife Carmen, son Ricardo, and daughter Maria Teresa. ANGEL BERRIOS-ORTIZ, Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez, PR 00680 [Caribbean Journal of Science, Vol 32, No. 2, 123-124, 1996]

AffiliationUniversity of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez
Label AbbreviationJ. Maldonado Capriles

     
    The Essig Database is a project of BNHM  University of California, Berkeley    Comments & Questions
    Essig Museum Home   Start a new Search