UH PROFESSOR EMERITUS DONALD TOPPING

Donald M. Topping, a professor emeritus at the University of Hawai'i
and co-founder of the Drug Policy Forum of Hawai'i, died Sunday at his
Manoa home. He was 73.

Topping was born on Nov. 1, 1929, in Huntington, W.Va. He received his
doctorate at the Michigan State University and taught at the
Territorial College of Guam.

In 1962, Topping accepted a position at the English Language Institute
at the University of Hawai'i.

Topping held various positions at the university. He served as
director of the Pacific and Asian Linguistics Institute from 1969 to
1974, and director of the Social Science Research Institute from 1974
to 1996.

He also was a professor in the Linguistics and Sociology departments,
as well as in the Pacific Islands Studies program. Topping's research
areas included Micronesian languages, social change in the Pacific
Islands, language and cognition, telecommunications policy, and drugs
and society.

Topping wrote and edited the Chamorro-English dictionary and Chamorro
Reference Grammar.

In 1993, Topping co-founded the Drug Policy Forum of Hawai'i. The
nonprofit group was goal is to find alternative approaches to the war
on drugs and to encourage effective drug policies that minimize
economic, social and human costs.

The organization often took controversial stands on drug eradication
efforts and Topping was in the center of the debate. He served as the
group's president until April 2003, when he was awarded the
organization's Ho'omaluhia Award for his 10 years of leadership.

In 1997, Topping retired from the university, but continued to work as
a professor emeritus.

Topping is survived by his wife, Priscilla; sons, Miles, Lee Minh, and
Jason Kesolei; daughters, Dee Johnson and Leslie Jensen; eight
grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Private services. Donations may be made to the Drug Policy Forum of
Hawai'i at P.O. Box 61233, Honolulu, HI 96839.