Photograph by Manuel Jiménez

Maricela Sosa
(1966-1992)

I would like to honor the memory of a person who unfortunately is no longer with us. Although my father guided me in my first steps in research, Maricela Sosa was a great inluence in my personal and professional life. She taught me my first lessons on bat research and vertebrate museum duties. Her most admirable qualities were her willingness to share her knowledge, her ability and humility in doing so, and her general positive attitude. Those qualities made her difficult to forget. She was a charming, hard-working, and optimistic person. I will always be grateful to her for giving me the opportunity to learn from her. In part, I owe her who I am and what I do today. To her, I owe my eternal gratitude.

There is no doubt that we lost a great person and a young woman with great potential. Despite her short scientific career, many of us were guided and inspired by her in our undergraduate studies. I am certain she was happy and I am grateful for the blessing of learning from her even in her last day of life.