[PCA] NEWS: Remembering Steve Clemants

[Olivia Kwong]

>From http://www.bbg.org/abo/pressroom/garden/2008/2008steveclemants.html

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT
Leeann Lavin: 718-623-7289, leeannlavin at bbg.org
Kate Blumm: 718-623-7241, kateblumm at bbg.org

Dr. Steven Clemants
July 22, 1954-November 2, 2008

A passion for plants came early for Steve Clemants, who went on to become 
one of the leading botanists of the day. Born in Minnesota and raised in 
the towns of Edina and Minnetonka, Minnesota, and Chicago and Normal, 
Illinois, Steve developed a love of nature as a young boy. He had an 
affection for the flowers that grew in his family's garden, particularly 
tulips, but he especially admired wildflowers. Throughout his childhood, 
his mother, Doris, nurtured his interest, teaching him about local 
wildflowers and where they grew.

After completing high school in Minnetonka, Steve attended the University 
of Minnesota. He initially majored in computer science, but he missed the 
out-of-doors and his nature studies. This led him to change his 
undergraduate major to botany, his childhood love. His dual interests of 
botany and computer science served Steve very well later in his career; he 
was instrumental in developing a number of important databases for plant 
location records. Steve graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1976 
but remained there to pursue a master's degree in botany with a minor in 
horticulture, which he obtained in 1979.

Steve's botanical pursuits took him to the City University of New York 
(CUNY) where, working at the New York Botanical Garden with curator James 
Luteyn, he pursued a doctorate in botany. His graduate work focused on New 
World members of the blueberry family in the genus Bejaria, and this 
allowed him to conduct field trips in the tropics. He obtained his 
doctorate in botany from CUNY in 1984. It was during his graduate studies 
that his friend and fellow graduate student Brian Boom introduced Steve to 
Grace Markman, then a volunteer tour guide at the New York Botanical 
Garden. They later married.

After a brief teaching appointment at Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson, 
Steve accepted a position as a botanist with the New York Natural Heritage 
Program, and he and Grace moved to the Albany area in 1985. Utilizing his 
skills in botany and computer science, Steve developed a database of rare 
plant occurrences in New York State. He also conducted extensive fieldwork 
in search of rare plants. During this time his interests in plant research 
expanded beyond the blueberry family to other families, including the rush 
family and goosefoot family.

In 1989, Steve accepted a position as a research taxonomist at Brooklyn 
Botanic Garden, where he later served as director of Science; vice 
president of Science, Publications, and Library; and senior research 
scientist. As Steve continued his botanical research, he developed 
additional interests in urban ecology and conservation. Shortly after 
arriving at the Garden, he founded the New York Metropolitan Flora 
program, which has become an international model for studying plants in 
urban environments. Data from this pioneering project are now yielding 
important information on how human-caused phenomena, such as global 
warming and development, are affecting the region's plants.

During his time at BBG, Steve published dozens of research papers. In 2006 
he coauthored Wildflowers in the Field and Forest: A Field Guide to the 
Northeastern United States (Oxford University Press) with New York Botanic 
Garden researcher and photographer Carol Gracie. This book has become one 
of most popular field guides for the Northeast. It is also used as a 
college textbook for field botany, enabling people to learn more about the 
wild plants Steve had admired since he was a boy. Steve also furthered 
botanical education by serving on the faculty at Rutgers University and 
the City University of New York.

Steve recognized the need to protect the plants he loved so much and 
served on numerous committees and boards of organizations active in local, 
national, and international conservation efforts. During his career he was 
president of the Nature Network; chair of the Invasive Plant Council of 
New York State; president of the board of Botanic Gardens Conservation 
International's U.S. office; historian of the Torrey Botanical Society; 
chairman of the Long Island Botanical Society; and member of the Woodland 
Advisory Board of Prospect Park. He was also codirector of the Center for 
Urban Restoration Ecology (CURE), a collaboration between Brooklyn Botanic 
Garden and Rutgers University, the first scientific initiative in the U.S. 
established to study and restore human-dominated lands. He served as 
editor-in-chief of Urban Habitats, a peer-reviewed scientific e-journal on 
the biology of urban areas around the world, which was launched in 2003. 
In 2008, Dr. Clemants was instrumental in developing an agreement between 
the NYC Parks Department and Brooklyn Botanic Garden committing the 
resources of the two institutions to the conservation of plants native to 
New York City, the first comprehensive conservation initiative targeting 
the City's native plants. "Steve was a colleague and the leader of our 
mutual efforts to discover, preserve, and publicize local botanical 
biodiversity," said Adrian Benepe, NYC Parks Commissioner. "He will be 
deeply missed by all who care about natural New York and the great beauty 
of its parks and wild spaces."

Steve was a remarkably kind, giving, and patient man, who always found 
time to assist students and other members of the public who came to the 
Garden with questions and requests. Shortly before Steve's passing, his 
extraordinary kindness was displayed when he learned that a Ukrainian 
colleague and his wife-who had never before been to New York-would briefly 
be in town during a flight layover. Steve picked them up, took them on a 
whirlwind tour of Brooklyn, and returned them to the airport in time for 
their flight. Gerry Moore, director of Science at Brooklyn Botanic Garden, 
said, "Steve's extensive knowledge of botany and willingness to help all 
who came to him with questions was a combination that served the Garden 
and the public well. His example inspires us to continue our research in 
the plant sciences, while always finding time to share our knowledge and 
our curiosity with individuals, from kindergartners to international 
researchers."

As news of his passing has spread, BBG science staff received messages 
from around the world from colleagues who admired Steve and his work. 
Peter H. Raven, president of the Missouri Botanical Garden, said, "Steve 
Clemants was a bright light in the field of botany, a lovely man who was 
utterly fascinated with plants, loved people, and made a marvelous 
contribution by combining his passions into every facet of his life. No 
one has done a better job in involving the public in the joy of learning 
about plants, finding them, thrilling in new discoveries, and 
understanding their traits. Steve's contributions to science were deep and 
numerous, and his contributions to development of the Brooklyn Botanic 
Garden over the years, through good times and difficult ones, were of 
fundamental importance in keeping that fine institution on an even keel. 
His bright, friendly, pleasant personality will be missed as much as his 
outstanding professional skills, not only in research and in 
administration but in education and in his ability to uplift the spirit of 
everyone who knew him."

Steve is survived by his wife, the painter Grace Markman of Brooklyn; his 
mother, Doris Seward, and stepfather, Thomas Seward, of Minnetonka, 
Minnesota; his brother, Thomas Clemants, of Vail, Colorado; his sister, 
Judith Yess, of Winona, Minnesota, his half-sister Nancy McLean of 
Hopkins, Minnesota; his half-sister Elizabeth Clemants of New York City; 
his half-brother, Robert Clemants, of St. Louis Park, Minnesota; his 
stepsister, Ellen Dahlquist, of Edina, Minnesota; and his stepmother, 
Phyllis Clemants, of Minneapolis, Minnesota.

The Dr. Steven Clemants Wildflower Fund has been established to honor our 
late colleague and friend. Steve's widow, Grace Markman, is working with 
the Greenbelt Native Plant Center to plan a living memorial that will 
foster the planting of native wildflower species in New York City parks. 
Donations in his memory should be made out to "City Parks Foundation, Dr. 
Steven Clemants Wildflower Fund," and mailed to City Parks Foundation, c/o 
Greenbelt Native Plant Center, 3808 Victory Blvd., Staten Island, NY 
10314.

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>From http://www.bgci.org/global/steveclements/

Remembering Steve Clemants
Dr. Steven Earl Clemants (22 July 1954 - 2 November 2008)
Leading botanist, plant conservationist, environmental educator

It is with great sadness that we commemorate Steve Clemants, the President 
of the BGCI US Board and Vice-President of Science, Publications and 
Library at Brooklyn Botanic Garden - to name just two of his positions of 
expertise.

Steve loved wildflowers as a boy and this deep-rooted inherent passion 
became his life's work; he leaves a remarkable legacy of scientific, 
conservation and educational achievements.

"The one word that comes to mind immediately is commitment.  Another is 
openness.  He was one of the most committed people I have ever met with 
regard to understanding preserving what little remains of our natural 
heritage.  His ability to engage scientists, academics, students, and the 
general public was truly remarkable.  And he took very little, or no, 
credit for his vision and accomplishments.  His commitment extended to (or 
maybe emanated from) his relationship with his wife.  To top it all off, 
he had a great sense of humor and a ready laugh.  I sorely miss him." 
wrote Christopher P. Dunn, Director Harold L. Lyon Arboretum in Honolulu, 
Hawaii.

We at BGCI will miss his steady gentleness at the helm of our US Board. We 
must strive to continue his work.

A living memorial has been set up in honour of Dr. Steven Clemants to 
plant native plants in the New York City parks system.

Checks can be made out to "City Parks Foundation" and can be sent to:

Dr. Steven Clemants Wildflower Fund
City Parks Foundation
c/o Greenbelt Native Plant Center
3808 Victory Blvd.
Staten Island, NY 10314