Rolf Richard Sohn

Rolf Sohn passed away on April 20th, 2026, just two days before his 75th birthday and, fittingly, Earth Day.

Rolf was born on Long Island, NY, and raised in South Ozone Park, NY. He attended Brooklyn Tech High School and then Queens College, CUNY, where he majored in Earth and Environmental Science, and where he met and graduated with his future wife Mary in 1973. Rolf earned his Master’s degree in Education from Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA, and went on to initially teach at Holicong JHS, Doylestown, PA, where he also served as a baseball coach. Upon moving to Virginia, he taught science at JJ Kelly H.S. Then, after relocating to Florida, he spent 25 years teaching geology, environmental science, and oceanography at Brevard Community College, now known as Eastern Florida State College.

Rolf loved teaching and sharing his fascination with the natural world. Awarded the first Excellence in Teaching Award at BCC, he was known for the breadth of his knowledge, his informative lectures, his in-class demonstrations, and his never-ending sense of humor. Whether delivering one of his famous quips, playing guitar and singing an environmental tune, or sharing his “endangered feces” collection, Rolf knew how to bring smiles to his students’ faces and have fun while learning. Outside the classroom, he organized a number of Earth Day concerts on BCC's Cocoa Campus, enlisting local artists and musicians. He also led numerous field trips where students collected environmental samples and later analyzed them.

Rolf’s love for the outdoors was one of his true passions. Along with Mary, he camped throughout the United States. On one trip to Alaska, he and Mary made a roadside stop to discuss their destination. As they sat in the car, a black wolf emerged from the woods, looking at the two of them before disappearing silently into the trees. That sighting began Rolf’s love of wolves, and soon, he and Mary made many trips to Yellowstone National Park, where they camped and took field courses.

Rolf was also an avid animal lover, adopting numerous dogs and cats from Rescue Organizations. For years, he would take Misha, Sasha, Pippin, Katie, Kimi, Ollie and Krissie in his boat when he fished the lagoon. The dogs loved being on the open water and running free on an empty spoil island.

Rolf will be missed by his former students, his colleagues, and his friends, but none more than his wife Mary, who was looking forward to celebrating their 54th wedding anniversary in June.

A Celebration of Life ceremony is likely to occur later this year. Donations to Defenders of Wildlife would be his first choice as a way to honor him and what he cherished.