Notes:

Dr. Karl Edwards Havens, III was called to eternal rest suddenly at home on April 26, 2019, with his wife and son by his side. He was 61. Karl was born and raised in Niagara Falls, NY the son of the late Karl Edwards Havens, Jr. and Dianne (Lauer) Havens of Niagara Falls. He attended Maple Avenue Elementary, North Junior High School, and graduated from Niagara Falls High School with honors in 1975. Karl was an avid skier and achieved the honor of becoming an Eagle Scout. He received a BA in Biology with honors from the State University of New York at Buffalo in 1979, a MS with honors (1981) and PhD with honors (1984) in Limnology/Environmental Biology from West Virginia University.

Karl was the loving husband of Pamela Ann (Williams) Havens, of Gainesville, FL, and devoted father to Andrew Williams Havens. He is survived by his sister, Claudia Beth (Havens) Wade (Harry) of Niagara Falls, NY; Dr. John Andrew Havens (Michele) of North Tonawanda, NY; and Dr. Todd Lauer Havens (Dianne) of Lewiston, NY. He is also survived by 6 nieces, 3 nephews, one great-nephew, as well as several cousins and great-cousins. He is predeceased by his in-laws Oliver Duncan “O.D.” Williams and Dorothy “Doll” Williams of Keyser, WV, and several uncles, aunts and cousins.

Following his education, he was an Assistant Professor at the Bloomsburg location of the University of Pennsylvania, and later at Kent State University, Ohio. He then became director of research for the South Florida Water Management District - focusing on the water quality and ecology of the Everglades watershed. Since 2007, Karl was the Director of the Florida Sea Grant College Program and Professor in the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences at the University of Florida School of Forest Resources and Conservation. Karl had 35 years of experience in aquatic research, education and outreach and was the recipient of the Edward Deevey Jr. award from the Florida Lake Management Society. He authored and published over 160 peer-reviewed scientific articles and had over 6000 citations. He was a member of the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine, and on the board of directors for the Florida Ocean Alliance and Florida Institute of Oceanography. Karl was a renowned expert in his field, and gave hundreds of lectures and presentations worldwide. His life’s work was a monumental gain to aquatic science, and his loss a palpable one.

Karl’s true passion and release in life was his love of outdoor photography and art. He was the founder of the “Photography with Classic Lenses” Facebook group, (which now has close to 12,000 members), several other online photography groups, and a co-host of the weekly “Classic Lenses” podcast. Through this, he had many hundreds of worldwide friends and thousands of followers. He had a true artistic eye for, and deep technical knowledge of adapting classic film lenses to digital photography. He organized a local photography group in Gainesville as well. He was a natural artist, and exhibited at the Lewiston Art Festival several times in the late 1970s. More recently, he developed a love for abstract oil painting, and displayed his works at the Hippodrome Theatre Gallery in Gainesville, FL in 2016. Dozens of his paintings and photographs adorn his home. He loved traveling with his wife Pam, and visiting Niagara Falls every summer to be with his Mom and family. He spent tireless hours hiking, geocaching and exploring with this son, Andrew.

Visitation will be on Friday, May 10th from 5 – 7 P.M. at M.J. COLUCCI & SON NIAGARA FUNERAL CHAPEL, 2730 Military Road, Niagara Falls, NY 14304, where a brief religious service will follow at 7:00 P.M. A private memorial event is being held in Gainesville, Florida at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Down Syndrome Association of Central Florida - online at www.dsacf.org or by mail to: 204 North Wymore Road, Winter Park, FL 32789. Visit mjcoluccifuneralchapel.com for online condolences.

Family/Spouse: WILLIAMS, Pamela Ann. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]