Lynwood George Clemens, Ph.D., of Okemos, Michigan, passed away on Sunday, March 20, 2016, surrounded by his wife and family. He was born to Frederick R. and Gladys V. (White) Clemens on December 2, 1937, and grew up in Olyphant, Pennsylvania. He attended Scott Township High School, received his B.S. in Psychology from Pennsylvania State University in 1960 and his Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1966. Dr. Clemens completed his post-doctoral research at the University of California, Los Angeles, and the Oregon Primate Research Center.
Dr. Clemens joined the faculty of Michigan State University in the department of Zoology (now Integrative Biology) in 1968. During his tenure, Dr. Clemens became a leading figure in the development of the field of behavioral endocrinology, helping to shape the field with his research and organize the East Coast Animal Behavior Conference that would later become the Society for Behavioral Neuroendocrinology. Widely published in his field, Dr. Clemens was passionate about advancing knowledge through research publication and exchange at national and international conferences. He served as a trainer and mentor to many future scientists and professors in animal behavior and neurobiology. In addition to pursuing a successful research career, he dedicated his energy toward undergraduate teaching by converting his neurobiology courses to a team-based method long before the approach became widely accepted. In 2009 Dr. Clemens was the recipient of the Daniel S. Lehrman Lifetime Achievement Award in Behavioral Endocrinology from the Society of Behavioral Neuroendocrinology.
Throughout his life, Lynwood enjoyed activities learned as a boy in Pennsylvania, including hunting and fishing. Among his favorite pastimes were sailing on the Great Lakes, skiing in northern Michigan and Colorado, and hiking in the woods at his beloved Vanderbilt chalet with his dogs. Above all, Lynwood cherished summers with his family at the cottage on Burt Lake.
Lynwood is survived by his wife, Linda Coniglio, his daughters, Lori McGahren-Clemens, Michele Nikolai (Thomas Nikolai), and Jennifer Clemens, as well as his grandchildren, Joshua, Anya, Michael, Delaney, and Russell. Also surviving are his brother, Frederick R. Clemens of Huntington Valley, Pennsylvania, and sister, Lenita Merritt of Jermyn, Pennsylvania, as well as many nieces, nephews, and extended family. He will be remembered as a loving, caring, and committed husband, father, grandfather, brother, and teacher who embraced life with great spirit, passion, intellect, curiosity, and humor.
In lieu of flowers, those desiring may make contributions to the Burt Lake Preservation Association, the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center, or McLaren Hospice.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, May 15, 2016 at Michigan State University Horticultural Gardens - North Garden, 1066 Bogue St., East Lansing, Michigan, at 12:00pm. Parking is available in Lot #46, at the Wilson Rd. entrance.
The family is being served by Gorsline Runciman Funeral Homes, 1730 East Grand River Ave., East Lansing, MI. Condolences and memories may be shared with the family at www.greastlansing.com.
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