Robert Charles Cashner

Dr. Robert Charles Cashner, Bob to his many friends, passed away on July 1, 2018. He was a well-known and respected biologist, faculty member, and administrator at the University of New Orleans where his career spanned 35 years. In addition to teaching and mentoring hundreds of students at UNO, he also was chair of the Department of Biological Sciences, Dean of the Graduate School, and Vice Chancellor of Research & Sponsored Programs until his retirement in 2008.

Bob was born in Flint, MI on August 18, 1942. His family moved to Conroe, TX when he was a senior in high school. He received his bachelors degree from Lyon College (Arkansas College), his master’s degree from the University of Arkansas, and his Ph.D. from Tulane University. It was his last move which was the permanent one, as he fell in love with New Orleans and fellow biologist (Frances Lucy Miller) while attending graduate school at Tulane.

Bob’s scientific contributions included many important discoveries about North American and Australian freshwater fishes. He authored or co-authored over 60 papers, and described multiple species of fishes, including sport fishes such as Rock Bass, as well as less-well-known fishes such as minnows, darters, and top minnows. In addition to discovering new species, Bob also worked on fish ecology and spent many years surveying fishes throughout Louisiana, Oklahoma, and even as far afield as Australia. Bob was active in the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, and served as president, was a permanent member of the Board of Governors, and received the Robert Johnson Award for recognition of service to the society.

Bob, and his family (Frances, Christie, Mollie, and Emily), traveled extensively in pursuit of fishes and on the way to attending scientific conferences. For a number of years in the mid-1980s, the family would trade in the humid New Orleans summer for hot and stormy Oklahoma summers, where Bob taught at the Oklahoma Biological Station and collaborated with other ichthyologists, while the family swam in Lake Texoma, watched scissor-tailed flycatchers, and learned to avoid brown recluse spiders with skill. Bob, however, was not as skilled as his female family members, and sustained a brown recluse bite on his knee (which fortunately healed relatively quickly).

In 1991 Bob went on sabbatical in Australia and the family traveled with him. Fran taught at Southern Cross University, and Mollie and Emily attended high school in Lismore, NSW. Bob mentored students, studied freshwater eels, and of course befriended many Australians who became life-long friends. He maintained his connections to Australia with frequent return trips and encouraged as many New Orleans – Australia cultural exchanges as possible.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Frances M. Cashner and his parents, Keath and Charlotte Cashner. He is survived by his three daughters: Christi Cashner Alli, Mollie Cashner Woltmann (Stefan), and Emily Q. Laan (Remy); five grandchildren Kallista, Nico, Sedge, Miles, and Townes, his brother Jeff Cashner, sister Debbie Krueger, and many deeply loved nieces and nephews, and his third wife, Kay Sweeney-Cashner.

Bob was a truly beloved man. Most people who knew him believed him to be their best friend. He possessed an incredible intellect matched only by his sense of humor. He will be missed by all who were fortunate enough to have shared any portion of his life.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks donations be made to the newly established Cashner Student Assistance Fund. Please make checks payable to ASIH, and indicate Cashner Fund on the check. Instructions can be found on the ASIH website (www.asih.org).