It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Hans‑Dieter Sues on February 21, 2026. Hans was a valued member of the WBFC from 2010 until his recent resignation. We share below a message from Kirk Johnson in remembrance of Hans:
“…Hans was a good friend and an incredible paleontologist. After receiving his Ph.D. from Harvard University, he was a postdoctoral fellow at both McGill University and NMNH. In 1992, he became Curator of Vertebrate Paleontology at the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) in Toronto and served on the faculty at the University of Toronto. He later was appointed Vice President of Collections & Research at the ROM before moving on to the Carnegie Museum of Natural History. Ultimately, his career came full circle when he returned to our museum as the Associate Director for Research and Collections in 2005 and then rejoined the Department of Paleobiology in 2009.
Hans authored or co-authored more than 150 scientific papers and helped name a number of new species, including Anzu wyliei, a 500-pound, bird-like, feathered dinosaur nicknamed the “chicken from hell.” The dome-headed dinosaur genus Hanssuesia was named in his honor. Just a few weeks ago, he was a part of a team that discovered Tyrannoroter heberti, one of the earliest known land vertebrates to start eating plants.
Hans received a number of honors for his scientific contributions. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and received an Alexander von Humboldt Award for Excellence in Research and Teaching. He served as a Past President of the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology, on the Committee for Research and Exploration of the National Geographic Society, the Board of Directors of the Natural Science Collections Alliance, and as Chair of the NMNH Department of Paleobiology.
Hans was an excellent science communicator and was successful in generating excitement and understanding about paleobiology with schoolchildren, policy makers, donors, the media, and filmmakers alike. Hans had a great sense of humor and an infectious laugh. His starring role in our “Dr. Is In” YouTube series around the opening of Deep Time made him even more fans and for good reason.
Last fall, Hans appeared on the Paleo Nerds podcast. When you’re able to, I encourage you to listen. You get a real sense of how much joy our friend took from fossils and being a part of the paleo community. In his own words, he talks about how he became the scientist he was and gives a peek into just how wide ranging his interests and expertise were.
I know you all join me in sharing your deepest sympathies with Hans’ wife Liz, his daughter Sarah, and his entire family who appreciate the emotional support we are all extending…”