In Memory of Isidore “Izzy” Szczepaniak

August 28, 1950 - November 25, 2021

 It is with heavy hearts that we share the news of the passing of our dear friend and ACS colleague, Isidore “Izzy” Szczepaniak, who died suddenly at home on November 25, 2021.  Izzy was an accomplished and highly respected marine biologist whose cetacean research career spanned over 40 years. He was renowned for his expertise in whales, dolphins, and porpoises in San Francisco Bay and the Gulf of the Farallones. Izzy shared his vast and specialized knowledge through dozens of research publications and through his many roles with organizations including the American Cetacean Society, The Marine Mammal Center, California Academy of Science, San Francisco State University, Oceanic Society, Golden Gate Cetacean Research, the International Ocean Film Festival, and others.

In 1990, Izzy graduated with a Master’s of Science in marine biology from San Francisco State University where his master’s thesis was on “Abundance, Distribution, and Natural History of Harbor Porpoise in the Gulf of the Farallones.” He studied the harbor porpoise population off the local coast for over 40 years and was a co-founder of Golden Gate Cetacean Research where he and his colleagues documented the exciting return of harbor porpoises to the San Francisco Bay after decades of absence.  

Izzy also studied humpback whales in California and Costa Rica, bottlenose dolphins in Belize. In October 2021, he was part of a special team of scientists who were assembled in the upper Gulf of California to study the critically endangered Vaquita porpoise. Izzy was honored to be able to participate in this important survey of the most endangered marine mammal on the planet.

While contributing to cetacean research, Izzy found numerous ways to share his knowledge with the public as an educator. For several years, to the delight of hundreds of Bay Area participants, he taught the much-loved naturalist certification course for the ACS San Francisco Bay Chapter.  He represented ACS at many area festivals and events and assisted with hosting our Monthly Speaker Series events.  In 2020, as the pandemic reduced people’s opportunities to get out on boats and beaches to observe cetaceans in the wild, Izzy joined forces with fellow Board member, Susan Hopp, to write our “Conversation with Izzy” blog series to provide our community with updates regarding interesting cetacean-related events, sightings, and strandings in the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond. 

As an educator, Izzy taught marine biology classes at San Francisco State University and the California Academy of Sciences.  He also worked as a naturalist for the Oceanic Society since 1982 guiding both Bay Area and international trips. Izzy always jumped at the opportunity to give a talk to build awareness of the plight of marine mammals and to inspire people to make choices that will help protect and conserve them. 

It is impossible to quantify the extent of Izzy’s impact on our collective understanding of cetaceans, gained through his many years of research and education work.  We are grateful for his tireless efforts on behalf of marine mammals, especially cetaceans.  We will miss his positive spirit and we will think of him often whenever we see porpoises, dolphins, and whales in the Bay and along the California coastline.

To honor Izzy Szczepaniak’s legacy, the American Cetacean Society, San Francisco Bay Chapter is establishing an annual research grant in his name.  The first Izzy Szczepaniak Memorial Research Grant recipient will be announced in January 2022.

A celebration of life will be held for our dear friend and colleague, Izzy Szczepaniak, on January 8, 2022. All are welcome to attend.  A memorial paddle-out will be at Linda Mar State Beach at 9:00 am PT.  A celebration of life party will be held at the California Academy of Science Aquarium in San Francisco at 6:30 pm PT. Please see this invitation for more details on both the paddle-out and celebration of life party.