Dr. Zen, the Santa Fe Institute's beloved cat, passed away Friday afternoon, March 21, at the age of 18, following a series of continually worsening health problems.
Zen has been a favorite SFI character since his adoption by the Institute in 2004 at the age of 8. His previous home was a good one, but his person could no longer take care of him. She surrendered him to the Santa Fe cat rescue Felines & Friends, from which SFI adopted him. (Dr. Zen succeeded The General, the Institute's first cat, who died of cancer in early 2004.)
Since then, thousands of people -- SFI faculty, staff, and visitors -- have enjoyed Zen's characteristically nonchalant morning walk-throughs of SFI science meetings. He was probably the attraction most photographed by Institute visitors.
In 2007, SFI's IT department (his de facto headquarters) temporarily fitted Zen with a "cat cam," producing hundreds of images of SFI's buildings and surroundings shot from his unique feline perspective.
As the only living creature inhabiting the main building on SFI's Cowan Campus 24/7, Zen believed he was its king. He was known for staking out his own chair for a nap during afternoon meetings, and for remaining steadfastly underfoot in the kitchen during the lunch queue. His clear message: "Go around me."
Zen could be counted on to respond with a single, polite meow when spoken to.
Notably, in a building brimming with PhDs, he was the only individual whose surname was routinely prefaced by Dr. Somewhere along the way he earned a promotion from the position of Cat In Residence to Director of Feline Affairs.
He never forgot his predatory roots. As a younger cat, Zen enjoyed his run of the mountain forests surrounding the Institute and often brought the results of his midnight hunts inside for SFI staff to admire. But as he progressed in life, Zen increasingly remained indoors and spent much of his time sleeping.
Nate Metheny, one of Zen's primary persons, said: "Zen has been a charismatic, loving, and contributing being to have at the Institute. Not only has he made the Institute his own, but he has given so much back to those who make the Institute their work and passion that it has helped keep the Institute domestic and personable at the same time as professional and academic. He will be missed sincerely by those with whom he has interacted."
All friends of Dr. Zen are encouraged to share their memories below, and to submit a favorite photo of Zen by emailing it to drzen@santafe.edu (one photo per person, digital photo files less than 1 MB, please). Selected photos will be included in the Dr. Zen Memorial Slide Show.