Art Tucker RIP

Today I learned that my friend and mentor, Dr. Arthur Tucker, just passed away following a sudden illness. Art was an economic botanist with a wide range of interests. His main passion was aromatic plants, and he is regarded as a world authority on aromatic chemistry, having managed an analytical laboratory where he performed GC-MS analysis for both academic and economic pursuits. Art lived in Dover, Delaware (USA) and he was a research professor at DE State University, where he established and for many years curated the Claude E. Phillips Herbarium, where I was a frequent visitor.

Only last year we lost another mutual friend, Dr. James Duke. I probably learned more plant knowledge from these two intellectual giants than from all other sources combined. Here they are together at a garden luncheon I arranged several years ago, at the Maryland University of Integrative Health.

Among his many activities, Art was a designed consultant to the famous Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania. Here we are with Arts other half, Sharon, another biologist.

Art was a prolific writer of scientific papers, and he also managed to produce one of the best herbal references around. He also had a great sense of humour, and loved to dress up!

I’ll always miss you Art, may you rest in peace.