Dr. Roy Thornton, viticulture and enology professor emeritus and researcher from 2001 to 2016, passed away on March 4. He was 84.

At Fresno State, he authored over 50 scholarly publications tied to the scientific and practical understanding of yeast genetics and wine fermentation. His classes and popular teaching style influenced generations of future winemakers at top wineries in New Zealand and California.

Prior to Fresno State, he served as a senior research microbiologist at E&J Gallo Winery in Modesto, an assistant professor at Indiana University Bloomington, and an education and training manager at Biolog, Inc. Before moving to the United States, he served as a lecturer for the Department of Microbiology and Genetics at Massey University in Palmerston North, New Zealand for 20 years from 1971-91.

He received his applied microbiology undergraduate and doctoral degrees from Strathclyde University in Glasgow, Scotland, and studied genetic variation in yeast during extended cultivation for his Ph.D. thesis.

Born in Bangor, Wales in the United Kingdom, he grew up in Rothbury and Thropton in Northumberland, England.

He met his wife, Dr. Susan Rodriguez, at a conference in San Diego, and they were married in 1986. Their son, Mark, was born in 1988.

Rodriguez served as a full-time lecturer in the Fresno State Viticulture and Enology Department and conducted research with Thornton. They retired in 2016, and moved to Santa Rosa and American Canyon to live.

A lifelong sportsman, Thornton enjoyed playing rugby, cricket, football (soccer), tennis and golf. He also coached many of these sports teams throughout his life.

He is survived by his wife and their son. A private service will be held, and in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Northumberland Wildlife Trust and its conservation efforts for the Rothbury Estate near where Thornton grew up.

Read more about his life and legacy in this obituary.