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

"John was a librarian extraordinaire, linguist, biologist, historian, computer expert and a true Renaissance man," said colleague Rebecca Davis.

A memorial service for Ward will be held at 10 a.m. tomorrow (June 26) at the First Baptist Church, 10720 Coloma Road, Rancho Cordova. At the memorial, his family will indicate where donations may be made in lieu of flowers. Condolences may be sent to Gerald Ward, 10175 La Alegria Drive, Rancho Cordova, CA 95670; and a condolence book will be available at the Blaisdell Medical Library, 4610 X St., Sacramento.

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

Ward graduated from the Rome Free Academy High School in Rome, N.Y., in 1971. In 1975, he received a bachelor's degree in biological sciences from California State University in Sacramento. 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 in San Jose.

After a short stint as an intern in the Lane Library at Stanford University, Ward began working at UC Davis in 1988. He was initially hired as the librarian in charge of the engineering collection at the Physical Sciences Library. In 1993, he transferred to what was then the Medical Center Library at the medical center, and now the Blaisdell Medical Library, where he spent the rest of his career.

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

Davis said of Ward, "His extensive knowlege 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."

In July, a memorial for the sharing of remembrances of John Ward will be held at the Blaisdell Medical Library. The exact date has not yet been determined. Those who would like to be notified of the date should contact Rebecca Davis, radavis@ucdavis.edu or (916) 734-3529.