A memorial service for librarian John Ward has been scheduled for 4 p.m. July 16 at the Blaisdell Medical Library where he worked.

Ward died of a heart attack at his home on June 22. He was 57.

He began his UC Davis career in 1988, as the librarian in charge of the engineering collection at the Physical Sciences Library, on the Davis campus. He transferred in 1993 to the Medical Center Library, now called the Blaisdell Medical Library, and spent the rest of his career there.

He was born March 9, 1953, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. According to Rebecca Davis, assistant head of Health Sciences Libraries, Ward was an "Air Force kid" who subsequently lived in Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands, as well as Kentucky, Colorado, New York and California.

He received a bachelor's degree in biological sciences from California State University, Sacramento, in 1975.

He stayed a few more years at CSUS to pursue graduate work in the biological sciences, then decided to become a librarian. Ward received his master's in library science in 1987 from California State University, San Jose.

He worked for a shirt time as an intern in the Lane Library at Stanford University before coming to UC Davis.

"John was a librarian extraordinaire, linguist, biologist, historian, computer expert and a true Renaissance man," Davis said for a Dateline obituary dated June 25. “His extensive knowledge of so many subjects, his kindness, his generosity of spirit and his love of a good story will be remembered by his many friends and library colleagues."

Ward is survived by his brother, Gerald Ward; sister, Ruth Ricks; and many nieces and nephews.

A condolence book is available at the Blaisdell Medical Library, 4610 X St., Sacramento. Davis said donations can be made to Wycliffe Bible Translators, P.O. Box 628200, Orlando, FL 32862-8200.