Dedication to Arthur Cronquist

Abstract

On 22 March 1992, the distinguished angiosperm phylogenist, Arthur Cronquist, a good friend to many of us, died suddenly of a heart attack in the herbarium of Brigham Young University at Provo, Utah. Art literally “died with his boots on” in the glorious western tradition, as he would have preferred, working on specimens of his beloved western plants, apparently at that time on members of the Loasaceae, in one of his favorite herbaria. The shock of his death was compounded a few days later by the death of his only son, Dr. John Cronquist, Professor of Philosophy at California State University, Fullerton, also of a sudden heart attack. Arthur’s widow, Mabel Allred Cronquist, whom he had married in 1940, has borne these tragedies surprisingly well, no doubt much aided by the support of their daughter, Mrs. Robert Crowe, four grandchildren, Art’s half-sister, Marian Alexander, and many, many friends and colleagues. An upbeat memorial service was held at the New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, New York on 5 May 1992. It was very well attended by his former students, botanical colleagues, relatives, and other friends coming from many of the United States.