Sidney Dillon Ripley
1913–2001 (age 88)
Ornithologist and conservationist
Biography
Sidney Dillon Ripley, born in 1913, devoted his life to the study of birds and to the preservation of vital habitats around the world. As Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution from 1964 to 1984, he expanded the museum’s scientific programs and helped bridge the worlds of scholarship and public education.
He was also a passionate conservationist, championing wildlife protection in South and Southeast Asia and helping to found efforts such as Project Tiger. His leadership inspired generations of naturalists and underscored the importance of science in safeguarding the planet.