1938-2023
Paul was born in Michigan to Pauline Schneirla Opler and Ascher Opler. The family moved to California and by the time Paul was 9 years old he had developed a love for nature, especially butterflies and birds. Paul received his BS from UC Berkeley, his Masters from San Jose State University, and his PhD in entomology from the UC Berkeley. During that time he was also drafted by the army, studying mosquitoes in Brooklyn. After receiving his doctorate Paul moved his family to Costa Rica for 4 years where he studied lepidoptera as part of his post-doctoral Fellowship with OTS (Organization for Tropical Studies), as well as the local vegetation, bees, and bats.
Paul Opler, an international authority on Lepidoptera who is best known for his books on butterflies and moths, including the Peterson Field Guide to Butterflies of Eastern North America, the Peterson Field Guide to Butterflies of Western North America, Butterflies East of the Great Plains: An Illustrated Natural History, and Moths of Western North America. He wrote most books while working for the Federal Government in the Department for Endangered Species in Washington DC, and later for the Geological Survey in FT Collins, CO. Since his retirement he worked as a professor for Colorado State University in the Department of Ag Science in the Gillette Museum of Arthropod Diversity, adding many specimens from his research trips to Mexico, Costa Rica, and Europe, as well as the Western US.
With the help of his wife Evi he taught classes on the Natural History of Butterflies in Rocky Mountain National Park, CO; the Teton Science School, WY; and in THE Sierra Nevada Field Campus, CA, for San Francisco State University. He also was a research scientist at the Smithsonian Institution in DC, as well as at the Museum of Nature and Science in Denver, CO. In more recent years he was excited to be part of a DNA project with Nick Grishin in TX. An additional accomplishment was his acceptance as a Fellow of the Royal Entomological Society of the United Kingdom. In recent years he also had gotten interested in his family’s genealogy and had identified over 3000 family members, always excited to find and keep in touch with his new-found relatives.
Paul was preceded in death by his parents, Ascher Opler and Pauline Schneirla Opler, and his first wife, Sandra Opler, the mother of his three children: Tim Opler (Susan Lewis) in New York, David Christian Opler (Celine Koudoyor) in France, and Laura Farris in NC. Paul will be dearly missed by his wife Evi Buckner-Opler and her family in Germany and Italy, his sister Nora Opler McCreary (Bob), CA; his three grandsons in France; stepmother Tamar Opler-Heyman (Lionel), NY; his former sister-in-law Kay (Larry) Cotter, CA; his nieces and nephews and their families; his cousin Judy Driscoll (Barry) in NC; and his stepson Hans-Eric (Diana) Buckner and their daughter in Montana.
Paul will live on in the memories he made with his family, many friends and colleagues, the many books and papers he wrote to advance the knowledge of Lepidoptera, in recent years even in Hymenoptera, and the many bird surveys and bird counts he participated in throughout his life. Paul wished to be cremated and there will be a Celebration of Life when the Butterflies will fly again.
In lieu of flowers, Paul requested donations be made in his memory to either the Opler Family Gillette Museum Curator/Collections Manager Endowment, or: the C. P. Gillette Museum of Arthropod Diversity Endowment. Please make checks payable to "CSU Foundation", write Paul’s name and the requested funds in the memo line or in a separate note, and send to CSU Foundation, P.O. Box 1870, Fort Collins, CO 80522-1870.
