FRITZ REHBOCK / SCIENCE HISTORIAN

Educator advanced
study of Pacific science

More obituaries

---

By Helen Altonn
haltonn@starbulletin.com

Philip Frederick "Fritz" Rehbock, 59, esteemed internationally as a historian of science, gifted teacher and author, died Saturday at the Queen's Medical Center after a long fight with melanoma.

Because of his illness, he retired Dec. 31 as a University of Hawaii professor of history after 26 years on the faculty.

Professors in the General Science and History departments said he was an outstanding educator and renowned historian who brought together the divergent cultures of science and the arts.

"He was a man who knew Charles Darwin and John Coltrane," said Peter Hoffenberg, associate professor of history.

"Even though the phrase is overused, a 'gentleman and scholar' is what Fritz was -- a decent, understanding, patient person."

"He was very knowledgeable, just a great appreciator of jazz history," as well as "a historian of science, technology and European history," said James Kraft, associate history professor, who shared Rehbock's avid interest in jazz.

Charles Hayes, dean of the UH College of Arts and Sciences, said Rehbock "excelled in everything" at UH, including teaching and administration, and did "marvelous work" in the history of science.

"It's important for us to understand in science where we've been to get insight as to where we are and where we're going," Hayes said.

Hoffenberg said Rehbock and Roy MacLeod, history professor at the University of Sydney, Australia, created a burgeoning field in the study of science in the Pacific.

"People have talked a lot about the Pacific Century. ... He and Roy talked about how important science was to the 20th century."

The two co-founded the Pacific Circle, an international group of scholars, scientists and institutions devoted to the study of science in the Pacific.

Rehbock was born in Seattle and attended Stanford University. He joined UH after earning a doctorate degree in the history and philosophy of science from Johns Hopkins University.

He wrote or edited several scholarly books on the history of science.

His latest work, which he edited with MacLeod, was "Evolutionary Theory and Natural History of the Pacific: Darwin's Laboratory."

He had an unusual hybrid interest in science and the humanities, and attempted to write for the general public rather than historians, said Karen Jolly, associate professor of history.

Passionate about music, Rehbock played the clarinet, saxophone, piano and vibraphone.

Survivors include his wife of 32 years, Karen Marie, assistant to the Institute for Astronomy director, and daughter, Maile Michelle.

In Washington are his mother, Lillian, of Redmond; brother Richard of Bothell; sisters Judith of Woodinville and Susann of Everett; and four nieces.

University colleagues are invited to a private celebration of his life from 6 to 9 p.m. tomorrow at the family home.

Donations may be made in his memory to Hawaii Public Radio, 783 Kaheka St., Honolulu, HI 96814-3726, Attn: Valerie Yee.