Harold Paul Bishop

Harold Paul Bishop (Hal), 91, died peacefully on June 3^rd at the E.T. York Hospice Care Center in Gainesville, FL, surrounded by his loving family, after a 2-year battle with a rare type of melanoma.  Born in Sacramento, CA, he spent much of his early life in Walla Walla, WA working as a ranch hand in his teenage years to help support his family. At 17, he volunteered for the Navy in WWII and served on a submarine until he was injured during a maneuver, spending a year at Chelsea Naval Hospital until his discharge. After serving as a civilian merchant marine traveling to the Far East, he returned to the Northwest to complete his bachelor and doctorate degrees at Washington State University on the GI Bill, earning a Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology.

            His first teaching and research position was at Tufts University in Medford, MA, where he met his wife, Josette Lievre, a recent transplant from Porrentruy, Switzerland. They spent 2 years in Europe while he was faculty at the University of Maryland Overseas Teaching Program. Upon returning to the U.S., he continued at Tufts, then later worked for the National Transportation and Highway Safety Administration, in Cambridge, MA and Washington, D.C., conducting human factors research.

            He was a calm and gentle soul with high ethical standards, infinitely respectful and accepting of others. Despite his accomplishments and contributions, he always remained incredibly humble. He was a consummate learner and loved to read – languages, science, technology, culture, philosophy, politics – which he continued to do until his very last days. The only thing he loved more than acquiring and sharing knowledge was his family. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Josette, daughter Michelle (Julius Gylys), and beloved grandsons, Anthony and Matthew. Donations to Haven Hospice, Gainesville, FL would be gratefully accepted.