Tucson Standard

Thomas Meixner, department head and professor of hydrology and atmospheric sciences at the University of Arizona, was killed in a campus shooting on Oct. 5.

The professor was remembered as a man who "worked to educate the next generation of water researchers and make our world's most precious resource safer for all," according to a news release from the university.

"He recently retweeted the following quote: 'Hope is not optimism, which expects things to turn out well, but something rooted in the conviction that there is good worth working for,'" Meixner's family said in a statement published in the news release. "Tom certainly lived this. He will be forever loved and missed by so many who knew him."

Meixner was "an incredible son, brother, husband, father, uncle, colleague, and friend," as well as a passionate teacher and advocate for clean water, the news release noted.

"Tom was a wonderful person, whose larger-than-life approach to being and doing inspired those around him and elevated the community," Carmala Garzione, dean of the College of Science, said in the news release. "The world is different without him. As a cancer survivor, Tom shared with me that he chose to live life to the fullest and focus on things that are valuable to him and beneficial to the people around him.

"He was a beloved member of our College of Science community and lived up to this statement in every way. In the face of challenges, he always provided a positive and forward-moving approach. His energy and passion for life, his work, his students, and the people he supported were uplifting. We have lost a dear friend and colleague."

Robert Robbins, president of the University of Arizona, wrote a message to the community on campus, according to the news release. Robbins promised that the school would honor Meixner's memory.

"Dr. Meixner, an international force in his field of hydrology and atmospheric sciences and a kind and warm man, had a tremendous impact on his department and the students he mentored," Robbins said. "Our hearts break for his family, students, colleagues, and our entire campus community. He set a wonderful example for all of us on how to be a true servant leader in life, and he will not be forgotten."

Meixner grew up "in Maryland, playing in streams and digging in the garden," the news release noted. He studied water in arid regions, specifically the Southwest, which prompted him to move to Arizona.

"Tom was an outstanding faculty member who managed to do everything with the highest level of professionalism and impact," Liesl Folks, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs, said in the news release. "His thoughtful approaches to solving the problems of today to ensure a brighter future for us all were evident across the breadth of his career. Above all, he was a kind and gentle presence in our lives. I am deeply saddened by this loss of a beloved member of our campus community."

Elizabeth Cantwell, senior vice president for research, innovation, and impact at UA, spoke about the professor as well.

"Tom Meixner was such an impactful and enthusiastic scholar," Cantwell said in the news release. "He was prodigious, incredibly well-respected, truly giving of his time and ideas – especially to his students – and just emblematic of what the community of scholars at the University of Arizona seek [sic] to do: change the world. I cannot express how much he will be missed by our entire research community."

Meixner is survived by his wife, Kathleen Cotter Meixner, and two sons, Sean and Brendan, according to the news release.

"The last time I saw him was at a recent College of Science reception," Michael Worobey, head of the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, said in the news release. "Right at the end, a surprise storm hit, unleashing a respectable monsoon rain dump. Tom apologized, so sincerely, that he hadn't had time to generate a forecast that day that could have helped people plan around the storm. That was Tom in a nutshell – caring about those around him to a ludicrous, lovely, lovable degree, to the extent that he took personal responsibility for the weather. His loss is immeasurable."

"He was passionate about hydrology, and one of the last acts he performed on this Earth was to teach a class," Meixner's family said. "He described his work as 'making the world better through biogeochemistry,' but to us, he was trying to save the world's most precious resource."

The alleged gunman, a former student named Murad Dervish, was expelled from UA in February and was not allowed on campus, according to AzCentral.com. He had a history of harassing and threatening university staff members.