diff --git a/include/cantera/thermo/SimpleThermo.h b/include/cantera/thermo/SimpleThermo.h
index a9a6e8d56..6e923df3f 100644
--- a/include/cantera/thermo/SimpleThermo.h
+++ b/include/cantera/thermo/SimpleThermo.h
@@ -69,6 +69,7 @@ public:
      * @param right Object to be copied
      */
     SimpleThermo(const SimpleThermo& right) :
+        SpeciesThermo(right),
         ID(SIMPLE),
         m_tlow_max(0.0),
         m_thigh_min(1.e30),
@@ -92,6 +93,7 @@ public:
             return *this;
         }
 
+        SpeciesThermo::operator=(right);
         m_loc          = right.m_loc;
         m_index        = right.m_index;
         m_tlow_max     = right.m_tlow_max;
diff --git a/include/cantera/thermo/SpeciesThermo.h b/include/cantera/thermo/SpeciesThermo.h
index d84a6ae1a..fd0e288c0 100644
--- a/include/cantera/thermo/SpeciesThermo.h
+++ b/include/cantera/thermo/SpeciesThermo.h
@@ -161,22 +161,6 @@ public:
     //! Destructor
     virtual ~SpeciesThermo() {}
 
-    //! Copy Constructor for the %SpeciesThermo object.
-    /*!
-     * @param right    Reference to %SpeciesThermo object to be copied into the
-     *                 current one.
-     */
-    SpeciesThermo(const SpeciesThermo& right) {}
-
-    //! Assignment operator for the %SpeciesThermo object
-    /*!
-     * @param right    Reference to %SpeciesThermo object to be copied into the
-     *                 current one.
-     */
-    SpeciesThermo& operator=(const SpeciesThermo& right) {
-        return *this;
-    }
-
     //! Duplication routine for objects derived from SpeciesThermo
     /*!
      *  This function can be used to duplicate objects derived from
diff --git a/include/cantera/thermo/SpeciesThermoMgr.h b/include/cantera/thermo/SpeciesThermoMgr.h
index b127e68b1..e71d86a6a 100644
--- a/include/cantera/thermo/SpeciesThermoMgr.h
+++ b/include/cantera/thermo/SpeciesThermoMgr.h
@@ -144,6 +144,7 @@ SpeciesThermoDuo<T1, T2>::operator=(const SpeciesThermoDuo& right)
         return *this;
     }
 
+    SpeciesThermo::operator=(right);
     m_thermo1 = right.m_thermo1;
     m_thermo2 = right.m_thermo2;
     m_p0      = right.m_p0;
diff --git a/src/thermo/GeneralSpeciesThermo.cpp b/src/thermo/GeneralSpeciesThermo.cpp
index 45cb5475d..696eb258f 100644
--- a/src/thermo/GeneralSpeciesThermo.cpp
+++ b/src/thermo/GeneralSpeciesThermo.cpp
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ GeneralSpeciesThermo::GeneralSpeciesThermo() :
 }
 
 GeneralSpeciesThermo::GeneralSpeciesThermo(const GeneralSpeciesThermo& b) :
+    SpeciesThermo(b),
     m_tpoly(b.m_tpoly),
     m_tlow_max(b.m_tlow_max),
     m_thigh_min(b.m_thigh_min),
@@ -43,6 +44,8 @@ GeneralSpeciesThermo::operator=(const GeneralSpeciesThermo& b)
     if (&b == this) {
         return *this;
     }
+
+    SpeciesThermo::operator=(b);
     clear();
     // Copy SpeciesThermoInterpType objects from 'b'
     for (STIT_map::const_iterator iter = b.m_sp.begin();
diff --git a/src/thermo/NasaThermo.cpp b/src/thermo/NasaThermo.cpp
index 99f5e6e08..e06a5bc0f 100644
--- a/src/thermo/NasaThermo.cpp
+++ b/src/thermo/NasaThermo.cpp
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ NasaThermo& NasaThermo::operator=(const NasaThermo& right)
         return *this;
     }
 
+    SpeciesThermo::operator=(right);
     m_high           = right.m_high;
     m_low            = right.m_low;
     m_index          = right.m_index;
diff --git a/src/thermo/ShomateThermo.h b/src/thermo/ShomateThermo.h
index 221342e88..39f8625e9 100644
--- a/src/thermo/ShomateThermo.h
+++ b/src/thermo/ShomateThermo.h
@@ -101,6 +101,7 @@ public:
             return *this;
         }
 
+        SpeciesThermo::operator=(right);
         m_high           = right.m_high;
         m_low            = right.m_low;
         m_index          = right.m_index;