Richard G. Obal, 73, originally from Sayreville, NJ, passed away on June 30. He was the agricultural and natural resources agent for Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Monmouth County for 34 years, before retiring in 2011. Early in his career he worked at his family’s nursery operation. Obal received a bachelor’s degree in biology and physiology […]
In Memoriam: Thomas Matro, Professor and Chair Cook Department of Humanities and Communication
Thomas Matro, 81, of Warren, NJ, died peacefully at home on June 6, 2021. He was born and raised in Hammonton, NJ. and graduated from St. Joseph’s High School and Rutgers University (BS ’62, MA ’66, PhD ’75). He received his doctorate in English Literature from Rutgers University. Tom began teaching at Rutgers-New Brunswick in […]
In Memoriam: Beatrice Devine, Coordinator of Extension Information Services
Beatrice (Kerico) Devine passed away on February 26, 2021 at Shady Oaks Assisted Living in Bristol, Connecticut. She was 97 years old. She was born in Shenandoah, PA September 2, 1923. She resided in East Brunswick, NJ until moving to Connecticut in 2018. Devine retired from Rutgers University on April 1, 1989 after working for […]
In Memoriam: Reverend Mr. John Dumschat (AG’68, GSE’75), Former Agricultural Agent, Sussex County
John F. Dumschat, 77, of Belvidere, NJ, passed away on March 22. Dumschat was a Rutgers graduate and was immediately drafted, serving in the Army as a combat sergeant during the Vietnam War. Upon his return to the States, he married Sarah Ellen Quinn. The two of them resided in various towns throughout New Jersey before calling Warren County home […]
In Memoriam: Ray Samulis, Former Burlington County Agricultural Agent
Raymond J. “Ray” Samulis, 69, of Roebling, New Jersey, passed away on February 24. He served as agriculture and natural resource agent for Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Burlington County and retired in late 2017 after 41 years of service. His primary responsibilities were vegetable crops, especially sweet corn; cranberries; and farm safety. Samulis served for […]
In Memoriam: William Ward, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology
William (Bill) Ward, associate professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology succumbed to pancreatic cancer on November 3. He had retired from a 42-year career as a professor of biochemistry at Rutgers School of Environmental and Biological Sciences in January 2020. Ward earned his doctorate in biochemistry from Johns Hopkins University and joined the faculty of Rutgers University in 1977. He had an early interest in characterizing […]
In Memoriam: Helen (Januszewski) Kupcho, Administrative Assistant, Rutgers Cooperative Extension
Helen (Januszewski) Kupcho, 86, passed away peacefully on October 9, 2020, after a long battle with kidney cancer. She served as the administrative assistant for Rutgers Cooperative Extension Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (ANR) for 17 years, 1980-1997. Helen was predeceased by her husband John (Jack) Kupcho, former chair of ANR who passed away earlier this year in May. Helen was born in Sayreville, NJ on March 29, 1934 […]
In Memoriam: John (Jack) Kupcho, Alum and Former Ag Agent and Department Chair
John (Jack) Kupcho, former Essex County agricultural agent and former chair of the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (ANR) within Rutgers Cooperative Extension passed away on May 11, 2020 at the age of 83. Born in Peckville, PA, he served in the U.S. Air Force and earned his undergraduate degree in ornamental horticulture from […]
In Memoriam: John L. Gerwig, Longest Serving Director (1962-1992) of Rutgers Cooperative Extension
John Lester Gerwig, 92, of Whispering Pines, NC died on April 24, 2020 at home. Gerwig was born in Chapel, West Virginia to the late Jay C. Gerwig and Pearl Perkins Gerwig. He earned a B.S. Degree in Agronomy and a M.S. in Soils from West Virginia University and his Ph.D. in Agronomy from Rutgers […]
In Memoriam: Joachim Messing (1946-2019), University Professor, Waksman Institute Director, and Wolf Prize in Agriculture Winner
By Executive Dean Robert M. Goodman. Joachim (Jo) Messing, the Selman A. Waksman Professor of Molecular Genetics, University Professor, and longtime director of the Waksman Institute of Microbiology at Rutgers University, has died at age 73. Messing made pioneering and foundational contributions that underpin the modern fields of genetics, genomics, and evolutionary biology. He […]
