In Memoriam: Karen Cook McNally, 1940-2014

Karen Cook McNally, professor emerita of earth sciences at the University of California, Santa Cruz, died late last month at her home in Davenport, California. She was 74 years old.

Professor McNally was a leading authority on earthquake risk assessment. She joined the faculty at the University of California, Santa Cruz in 1981 and served as director of the Richter Seismological Laboratory. She did a great deal of field work in the Central American nation of Costa Rica.

Professor McNally earned a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree, and a Ph.D. in geophysics, all from the University of California at Berkeley.