Mason, David T.

David T. Mason (1937- ) received a BA in biology at Reed College (1958) before completing an MA in zoology (1961) and a doctorate in limnology (1966) at the University of California, Davis. Mason subsequently established himself in Bellingham, Washington, where he was appointed associate professor of biology at Western Washington University, and became a much beloved professor at Fairhaven College. He taught a wide variety of inter-disciplinary subjects ranging from basic biology and ecology theory and practice, and created one of the first gay and lesbian studies classes in the Pacific Northwest. Mason combined teaching and research with creative writing. He was involved actively in theatrical work, producing and directing plays, and writing musical scores for countless Friends of Fairhaven theater productions. He was especially well known for his performance art piece, "The Blue Baroque." Mason was one of the few publicly "out" gay male teachers during the mid-1960s. His research included studies of environmental issues in Uruguay, the Alaskan Arctic and Pacific Northwest, and limnology studies of Mono Lake in California. Mason also conducted habitat studies along the lower Stehekin River, the Nooksack River and Lake Albert. He also examined the release of chemicals in Bellingham Bay by the Georgia-Pacific mill.