Dr. Donald Eugene Vermeer

Nov 9, 1932 – May 22, 2026

Dr. Donald Eugene Vermeer, a distinguished geographer, was born on November 9,

1932, in Oakland, California. He was the son of Hendrik Jacob Vermeer and Agnes

Hertel.

Donald's academic journey was deeply rooted at the University of California, Berkeley,

where he earned a B.A. in Geography in 1954. He went on to complete an M.A. in

Geography and Geology in 1959, and a Ph.D. in Geography and Anthropology in 1964.

Parallel to his early studies, Donald served his country as a Captain in the U.S. Army

from 1954 to 1957, acting as the Officer-in-Charge of the Chemical, Biological, and

Radiological Warfare School at Ft. Eustis, Virginia.

On July 9, 1954, Donald married Carrie Ann Vaalburg at the Alameda Christian

Reformed Church in Alameda, California. Their marriage spanned over six decades

until Carrie's passing on May 16, 2018, in Medford, Oregon.

An esteemed academic, Donald began his teaching career as a Lecturer at UC

Berkeley. He then joined the University of Colorado, Boulder as an Assistant Professor

and Director of African Studies. He spent a highly impactful portion of his career at

Louisiana State University (LSU) between 1968 and 1988, holding roles as Professor of

Geography and Anthropology, Department Chair, Associate Dean of the College of

Agriculture, and Director of International Affairs. He later served as Chair and Professor

of the Department of Geography and Regional Science at George Washington

University, and as a Research Adjunct Professor at California Polytechnic State

University in San Luis Obispo.

As a world-renowned expert in Geophagy, Donald's research left a remarkable global

footprint. He conducted approximately four and a half years of fieldwork in Africa and

spent over 14 months in Central America and the Caribbean, with additional research

taking him to Afghanistan, Siberia, Turkey, and Bulgaria. He authored 'The Cays of

British Honduras' and edited 'Man and Earth'. A dedicated leader in his professional

community, he served as a Staff Member and Consultant for USAID, was a Past

President of the Southwest Social Science Association, and held editorial board

positions for the National Geographic Society and the American Association for the

Advancement of Science (AAAS).

He is preceded in death by his beloved wife, Carrie; his parents, Hendrik and Agnes;

and his older brother, Rev. Robert Bruce Vermeer. Donald took comfort in the Gift of

Salvation through the work of Jesus Christ, and he now lives in eternity with Him. He

leaves behind a legacy cherished by his extended family, including his devoted nieces

and nephews.