Hiram Waye Li (June 3, 1944 - December 8, 2025)
Hiram’s studies in zoology began at San Francisco City College, then at UC Berkeley, where he began studying fish in earnest. He received a master's degree from Colorado State University and a doctorate from UC Davis, continuing his interests in the behavior, energetics, and ecology of freshwater fish. In 1972, Hiram became an Assistant Professor in the new Department of Wildlife and Fisheries at UC Davis. He focused on the fish of small streams of Northern California and the ecology of Clear Lake, CA. When he was appointed Assistant Leader of the USGS Oregon Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Unit at Oregon State University in 1979, he and his students began studies on freshwater fish communities of Oregon watersheds - first the Columbia, then the Willamette rivers, and ultimately the John Day River Basin and eastern Oregon. He was one of the first to recognize the importance of stream temperature for species and community function, and also the potential negative effects of exotic species on Oregon’s native fishes.
Sharing ideas and collaborating in research with his many graduate students built lasting relationships and gave Hiram great joy. He was a major professor to 35 graduate students and served on countless student committees. A very creative, big thinker, Hi’s studies ran the gamut from physiology to ecosystems and everything in between. In his personal and professional life, he was committed to conserving our aquatic resources. Beginning with the high school and undergraduate Native Americans whom Hiram and his wife Judy included in field work every summer, the Lis initiated an affirmative action program in their department before the University recognized the importance of diversity. Hiram worked tirelessly to bring underrepresented students into the fisheries profession and received the American Fisheries Society Emmeline Moore Award for promoting diversity.
Hiram and Judy met in class as undergraduates at UC Berkeley and married in 1966. Together, they explored the American West, shared research, and raised their family. They have two children, Eric and Meredith, who accompanied them into the field as kids, a son-in-law, Alex, and granddaughter Audrey. Hi loved working and playing in the out-of-doors - bird watching, canoeing, biking, and most of all walking his beloved dogs. His great passion for music came out when he played his banjos and ukuleles with his friends; he amassed a humongous vinyl collection of widely diverse music. With Judy, they converted their love of reading by making every room in their home into a partial library. He had a great sense of humor, amazing creativity, and a spectacular memory, ranging from the scientific literature to baseball statistics. Very importantly, he had a passion for helping people in all walks of life. Though Hiram was celebrated for his scientific creativity and the breadth of his intellectual curiosity, one of his most special gifts was his kindness to everyone. In spite of the challenges he faced, Hiram remained happy and brightened the lives of his family and friends. After a long journey coping with dementia, Hiram passed away peacefully, with Judy and their kids at his side.
- Written by the Li Family, Carl Schreck, and Stan Gregory