Remembering Dr. Stephen Clement, 1944-2026

Born Aug. 25, 1944, in Ventura, Calif., to Edward and Eleanor Clement, Steve spent his childhood in nearby Moorpark, playing baseball, riding bicycles, and participating in 4-H activities where he developed a passion for entomology. He attended Santa Clara Catholic High School in Oxnard before his enrollment in the University of California, Davis.

“My association with UC Davis began in 1958 when I came to the campus for a 4-H conference,” Clement wrote in an April 5, 2019 email to Kathy Keatley Garvey of the UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology. “I was a 4-H All-Star from Ventura County. I was able to graduate with a B.S. entomology degree in June 1967 with the help of Dr. R. M. Bohart. He supported my application for a 2-S deferment to the Ventura County draft board.” 

Vietnam War Service

Drafted into the U.S. Army in 1967, Clement was commissioned as a second lieutenant after completing Infantry Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia. He served in Vietnam with the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment as a scout platoon leader and executive officer.  He was awarded Bronze Star Medals for Valor and Meritorious Service in ground combat, along with the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry Unit Citation and other military honors. “He spoke openly about the profound impact the war had on him and remained deeply connected throughout his life to many of the men he served with, maintaining friendships shaped by the hardships and intensity of war,” his obituary related.

After returning home from Vietnam, Clement resumed graduate studies at UC Davis, working on his master's degree with major professor Robbin Thorp, while spending three summers at Yellowstone National Park as a ranger-naturalist and campground ranger. Clement described those summers as some of his happiest memories, and he often said it was "the best job I ever had." 

His masters' thesis: "Biological Investigations of Aculeate Hymenoptera from Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming." 

After receiving his doctorate, Clement accepted a position as assistant professor of entomology at The Ohio State University's Agricultural Research and Development Center, Wooster, serving from 1977-1981. He then joined the USDA-ARS as a research entomologist and foreign explorer for biological control agents of invasive weeds, working first in the Biological Weed Control Laboratory, Albany in 1981 and then to Rome where he served as part of the U. S. Embassy's Agricultural Mission from 1982 to 1986. 

Throughout his career, Clement collaborated with scientists around the world--Australia, China, England, France, Germany, India, Italy, Morocco, New Zealand, Switzerland, Spain, Sudan, Tunisia, and the U.S.-- and earned numerous professional honors, including the Entomological Society of America's highest award, Honorary Member, in 2012. 

A news article in EurekAlert! about his Honorary Member status pointed out: "Dr. Clement is internationally known for research in biological weed control, host-plant resistance, development of sustainable cropping systems, and conservation and use of plant and microbial germplasm for global agriculture. He has an exemplary record of transferring his research to public and private entities in the U.S. and other countries for commercialization and more research. Publications include one co-edited book, 15 book chapters, and 144 peer-reviewed papers; co-authors from 21 U.S. universities, 14 ARS research units, and research entities in 13 foreign countries."

“Despite his many accomplishments," his obituary read, "Steve cared most deeply about people. Across every stage of his life, he formed lasting friendships through humor, loyalty, deep respect for others, and a strong sense of doing the right thing. Wherever he landed, Steve built communities around conversation, mentorship, and shared experiences.”

'Wonderful Education' at UC Davis

His wife, the former Mary Anne Lindeman of Vacaville, related that she "met Steve on a blind date set up by mutual UC Davis friends after he had obtained his PhD.  He had a wonderful education there and talked often about his amazing professors and colleagues at that time. He remained in touch with many of them throughout his life and I was lucky enough to meet and know some of them as well."

“In retirement, Steve remained intellectually engaged and socially active," the obituary related. "He especially enjoyed meeting with a bi-weekly group of friends for spirited conversation, debate, and the occasional pint or two. He approached life with seriousness, wit, and a strong moral compass, balancing scientific rigor with deep care for the people around him.”

Survivors include his wife, Mary Anne; son Kevin Matthew (Yui); granddaughter Midori Anne; grandson Roy Sosuke; brother Ronald Clement; nephew Sky Ternahan-Clement; and cousins and friends across the United States and abroad.

Funeral services took place June 1 at the Tahoma National Veterans' Cemetery in Kent, Wash.  "It is a beautiful cemetery with a view of Mt. Rainier," Mary Anne Clement shared. "He wanted to be buried with fellow veterans." He requested that any memorial contributions be made to the Pullman Veterans Memorial Park.

Tributes

UC Davis Professor Emeritus Albert "Al" Grigarick, Steve Clement's major professor, said that "Steve was one of my brightest graduate students and a good friend.  I will miss his positive outlook on life and good humor." 

Grigarick, now 98, received his doctorate in entomology in 1954 from UC Berkeley. His research interests: include agricultural entomology-biology, ecology and integrated methods of control of pests of rice. He joined the UC Davis faculty in  1957, retiring in 1992. (See 2001 Aggie Video)

UC Davis Alumnus Eric Grissell: "I was saddened to learn that Steve has passed. As it turns out we were both born the same month and year. I am essentially his older brother by two weeks. We both earned our bachelor's degree at Davis in 1967 so it would seem we had some degree of similarity in our thought processes. And as Steve has perhaps bragged many times, we published our first paper together. It was the first for Steve and many more were to come as well. He was a valued researcher, mentor, and friend who was always cheerful and seemed to enjoy whatever he was doing at the time. It is not too difficult to imagine his upbeat laughter and companionship though It would be better if he was here." 

Grissell received both his master's degree and doctorate in entomology from UC Davis; he completed his Ph.D. in 1973. Grissell, who served as a research entomologist with the Florida Department of Agriculture and the U. S. Department of Agriculture at the National Museum of Natural History, has published extensively in science journals and on topics of botany, horticulture, and gardening. He is the author of numerous books.

UC Davis Distinguished Professor Emeritus (on recall) Frank Zalom: "Steve received a PhD under Al Grigarick in 1976, working on Crop Protection in Rice. Steve was a leader among the entomology grad students at that time, well-respected and well-liked. We briefly overlapped as grad students in Al’s lab and I followed Steve as Al’s PhD student. Steve was an Honorary Member of ESA and represented the Pacific Branch on the ESA Governing Board for six years. He was a real hero. Before returning to UC Davis as a grad student, Steve went to the U.S. Army Infantry School in Ft. Benning, Georgia and went on to serve as a Platoon Leader and Acting Troop Commander in the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment during 1969-1970,  receiving two Bronze Stars for valor and meritorious actions in ground combat in Vietnam and Cambodia. He was also wounded in action. We use the term hero a bit too loosely nowadays, in my opinion. He was modest and rarely spoke about this time in his life." 

Said Zalom: "Steve spent over 38 years leading and conducting research on sustainable solutions for pest problems that adversely affect grain legume, rice, maize, wheat, small fruit, and forage grass production in the U.S. and other countries, particularly focusing on conservation and use of plant and microbial germplasm for global food security."

"We knew Mary Anne and Steve before they were married," Zalom shared. "Matter of fact, the first trip that Jan and I took to Europe was to visit Steve and Mary Anne in Rome. We stayed at their apartment and traveled a bit with them around Tuscany. Steve was also the agricultural attache at the U.S. embassy in Italy and he got VIP tickets from the embassy for Jan and I to the Easter midnight mass at the Vatican/ which I’ll never forget." 

Zalom received his doctorate in entomology in 1978 from UC Davis, where he studied with major professor and agricultural entomologist Albert “Al” Grigarick. Zalom, former director of the UC Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program, is a Honorary Member of ESA and an ESA past president. 

UC Davis Doctoral Alumnus Kenneth Yeargan, professor of entomology, University of Kentucky: "Steve was one of the best human beings that I have known, period."  

Yeargan wrote on the Clement obituary page: "I offer my sincere sympathy to Steve's family. Steve and I were graduate students together at U.C. Davis and remained good friends throughout our respective entomological careers. I can attest to the words in the beautifully written obituary. Steve was a truly valued and respected friend to those who knew him. I only learned today (May 17, 2026) of Steve's passing, and I am deeply saddened by the world's loss of a remarkable person."  

Yeargan received his doctorate in entomology from UC Davis in 1974, studying with major professor Warren Cothran (1938-1980), a 1968-1980 member of the UC Davis faculty. Yeargan was named the 2004 recipient of the Thomas and Nina Leigh Distinguished Alumni Seminar, awarded by the UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology. Yeargan was elected a Fellow of the ESA in 2007.

Richard "Dick" Meyer, UC Davis doctoral alumnus described Steve Clement as an "entomologist extraordinaire." 

"It saddens me to hear of the passage of a great friend and fellow Aggie," Meyer said. "Steve was quite the entomologist with career interests spanning the entire spectrum of entomological endeavors. As graduate students, both of us were involved with 'rice field' insects: Steve with midges and me with mosquitoes. Just two bug families apart!"

"On a lighter side, Steve was an avid downhill alpine skier. However, I did manage to get him on a pair of less-macho Nordic cross-country skis. After a short distance and while catching his breath, he mused his preference for gravity providing downhill inertia as opposed to the extreme aerobics of the kick and glide!"

"At this time, I feel compelled to comment on his Vietnam service as a highly decorated U.S. Army officer and soldier. As such, his unit invariably incurred losses. Every year until his passing, Steve regularly contacted the families of those fallen brothers under his command. I need not express the magnitude of this act of humility and gratitude as being simply heroic! Myself being a Vietnam veteran, it was a privilege serving as a U.S. Army preventive medicine specialist with the mission of protecting our combat personnel from deadly vector borne diseases! One last comment: Lt. Clement, rest in peace, brother!"

Meyer, who  retired in 2005 as the assistant manager of the Orange County Vector Control Agency, received his doctorate in entomology from UC Davis in 1980 under the mentorship of Robert Washino, two years after being hired by UC Berkeley to conduct mosquito ecology and vector competence studies in Bakersfield at the Arbovirus Field Station School of Public Health, UC Berkeley (14 years). 

Purcell, who received his doctorate in entomology from UC Davis in 1974, retired as professor of entomology at UC Berkeley's College of Natural Resources, in July 1, 2006, after 35 years of research and teaching. His expertise: management of insect-borne bacteria and viruses that cause crop diseases. He is world-renowned as a Pierce's disease expert. He was instrumental in first culturing Xylella fastidiosa and demonstrating the bacteria as the cause of Pierce's disease, which threatens California's vineyards. He is a 1964 graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy.

UC Davis Forensic Entomologist Emeritus Robert Kimsey, UC Davis doctoral alumnus: "He and I were in grad school together.  It is not well known, but he had a number of medals from combat in Vietnam during a time when the war was really hot."

"Saved a whole lot of lives in his outfit!  They all used to get together annually and celebrate him.  This is a real loss!”  

Kimsey holds two entomology degrees from UC Davis: a bachelor of science degree in 1977 and a doctorate in 1984. He retired from the UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology faculty in 2024 after 35 years of service.