Edward J. P. Hauser

Dr. Edward J. P. Hauser, 78, of Asheville, NC, died on Monday, February 20, 2017 at Mission Hospital, Asheville, NC. He was born in Cleveland, OH, on April 14, 1938 to Edward and Anna (Huzl) Hauser.

Ed earned his B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. from Kent State University in Kent, OH, and was a college professor and environmental consultant. He taught at Cleveland State University, Kent State University, Lakeland Community College, and at the Stone Lab of The Ohio State University. Ed established the Biology Department at Lakeland Community College in Kirtland, OH, and was named as Professor Emeritus. In 2011, Ed was selected as one of 75 outstanding graduates of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Kent State University in honor of the school’s founding anniversary.

He was an NSF Fellow at the University of Georgia, a Graduate Council Fellow at Michigan State University, and a Research Associate at The Ohio State University. He also had over 40 years of experience as an environmental consultant for over 200 projects for the EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Ed was the past chair of The Nature Conservancy of Ohio. In 1976 he coordinated the Natural Heritage Program as a bicentennial gift to the nation – a model that is now used in all 50 states. He was a member of the National Climate Data Project and provided expert witness testimony on Capitol Hill for Congress on behalf of the National Audubon Society.

He served as Wetlands Coordinator for 22 years for the Beaver Lake Bird Sanctuary in Asheville, and designed the ecofilter wetlands system between the sanctuary and Beaver Lake. He was the ecological consultant for the Audubon International Signature Sanctuary Program adopted by Sand Ridge Golf Club in Ohio, considered to be the model for green and sustainable golf courses in the nation.

Ed was an Honorary Life Trustee of the Nature Conservancy of Ohio and elected as a Life Fellow in the Ohio Academy of Sciences. He was selected as the Environmental Educator of the Year by the Cooperative Extension of The Ohio State University in 1988, receiving recognition from the U.S. House of Representatives and the Ohio State Senate.

Ed will be remembered for his love of life, love of family, and his passionate care for the creation. He was a long-time member of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church of Asheville, and helped maintain the ecological beauty of the camps at Lutherock, Lutheridge, and Luther Springs. He was a long-time board member of the Botanical Gardens of Asheville and worked for over 20 years with the Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity. Through them he helped build Interfaith houses as well as obtaining grants through Thrivent for 8 Thrivent Builds, Lutheran sponsored Habitat homes. Over the years Ed wrote for and won millions of dollars in grants for causes he believed in.

Ed was preceded in death by his parents and his brothers: Joe, Charlie, and Bob Hauser.

Ed is survived by his wife of 28 years, Vickie (Wilde) Hauser, and by his children Kimberly (Greg) Lane of Fountain Inn, SC; and Timothy (Michelle) Hauser of Chesterland, OH; and by his step-children Kristin (Eric) Pike of West Des Moines, IA; and Karin (Burton) Doss of Asheville, NC. Also surviving are his grandchildren: Rachel and Jessica Lane; Chad, Robert and Katie Pike; Cord and Trey Doss.

Ed is survived by his brothers: Rich (Caroline), Tom (Pat), John (Caroline), Jim (Debby), Jerry (Marilyn), Don (Karen), Ken (Sally); and by his sisters Mary Lapick, Joann (John) Blechschmid, and Pat (Chuck) Rudnay; and by his sisters-in-law Terri, Pat, and Oye Hauser; and by many nieces and nephews.

A memorial service for Ed will be held on Saturday, March 11 at 1:00 pm at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, 10 N. Liberty Street, Asheville, NC, The Reverend Christopher Webb, presiding. A reception will follow at the church. In lieu of flowers, Ed requested that memorials be directed to the Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity, 33 Meadow Road, Asheville, NC 28803.

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