Do not stand at my grave and weep; I am not there, I do not sleep. I am a thousand winds that blow. I am the diamond glints on snow. I am the sunlight on ripened grain. I am the gentle autumn's rain. When you awaken in the morning's hush, I am the swift uplifting rush of quiet birds in circled flight. I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry; I am not there, I did not die.
UnknownThis memorial website was created to remember our dearest Keith Woolliams who was born in Chester, England, on July 17, 1940 and passed away on December 5, 2011.
Keith studied at Britain’s The Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew, the world’s oldest and most respected seat of botanical education. (The Kew Guild commemorated his work in part 1 and part 2 of the obituary written by their staff.) He worked in England, Bermuda, Papua New Guinea, and Kauai, Hawaii, and studied under several renowned botanists in Japan. This combination led him to consider himself a “botanical horticulturist”.
“Conservation through Cultivation” became his professional philosophy and became the motto for the work of Waimea Arboretum and Botanical Garden on Oahu, Hawaii, which to this day is his living legacy. In his 20 years as Waimea’s director, he built it into one of the most widely respected institutions for the conservation of rare and endangered native Hawaiian and tropical plants from around the world, work for which he became renowned and an inspiration to a younger generation of plant conservationists. His expertise and dedication to accurate, detailed documentation of Waimea’s collection enabled others to have a trusted source for research. In time, he became a recognized expert on various tropical plants, particularly hibiscus species.
Most recently, he worked as the Director of Plant Collection for the Oregon Garden, in Silverton, OR, where he retired in 2002.
He is survived by Akiko, his loving wife of 42 years; Angela, his daughter who has traveled the world as her father did; and the family of his son, Frank – wife, Hannah, and grandchildren, Taryn and Chris.
Slideshow
Latest Memories
| Ken Nagata |
Keith’s dedication |
October 29, 2018 |
Hello Akiko,
Thank you very much for the dedication photos. Great picture of your family!!! We are so happy that everyone could be there to honor Keith. We're just so sorry that we couldn't be there but we know how happy and proud you and the family must have been!! Not many have been honored and immortalized like that. Hope Frank is holding up with all the excitement. How long will everyone be in Hawaii?
| Jill Kampoda |
Keith’ dedication |
October 28, 2018 |
Hello Akiko!
There is a beautiful, new plaque in Waimea Valley draped in rows of lei. What a wonderful site to honor Keith's tremendous contributions.
I know you were his biggest supporter and I hope life is bringing you lots of happy days.
Aloha,
Jill
| Annabelle Takahashi |
Friend |
October 28, 2018 |
What a wonderful tribute for Keith! He certainly deserved all the recognition and it was especially meaningful that his family could participate. I'm sure he is very happy that his lifework which he enjoyed thoroughly has brought him this well earned honor.
| Divette |
email on 4/27/14 |
April 29, 2014 |
hi hope you are back from franks,and all is well.i was having a talk with adrian last night ,and he was telling me that one night he listened to keiths cd.and was captivated by his enthusiasm,for plants.he also said how going to hawaii changed his life when he was 5.frank told him then that he loved his father and respected him.i was surpised he said that at that Age.he and a friend have vowed to to back to hawaii one day..
was telling him about keiths memoirs and he was very interested and told him he could see things on keith memorial as he admired him so much, honestly you dont know what they are thinking.all for now before i loose it al love divette
| Ric Catron |
From His Christmas Letter 2013 |
January 8, 2014 |
On his Christmas letter Ric wrote,
Earlier this month I found a home for Keith Woollimas rare Hibiscus clollection. Keith had been my boss in Hawaii 40 Years ago. He was a noted plant collector, one of my early role models (along with High School teachers Edmond Totman and Leon Erlin), and passed away a year ago. Akiko, his wife has been maintaining the plants in Silverton, OR. The Hibiscus are now happily living at the Clackamas Community College Horticulture Department in Oregon City, OR. I am pleased the collection will stay in local public view. And the Horticulture department will profit in propagating and distributing rare plants.
Latest Condolences
| C.Bouguet |
My deepest condolences |
December 5, 2018 |
6
My condolences, as feelings of pain and bitterness become unbearable. It is my desire to convey a comforting thought based on the Holy Scriptures
John 5:28 "Do not marvel at this, because the hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice and come out."
This passage speaks of the resurrection of our loved ones. It is not God's plan to see us suffer and die, so He extends the following invitation to us: "Come near to God and He will draw near to you" (James 4:8)
Please go to the following link to obtain more information regarding the Hope expressed in this passage and again we are sorry for your loss.
http://www.jw.org
| Tanya Young |
Keith Woolliams |
February 1, 2016 |
I have just found out that Keith has died. I am so sad. Xxx
Only today I found out that Keith had passed on, after searching images of Erythrina elenae. Just now I have the good fortune to enjoy the flowers of this wonderful coral tree, almost 30 years after Keith generously shared seedlings with me in our early days of correspondence and plant trading.
I had never met or seen a photo of Keith before so the gallery here was a surprise, and a sadness to know he has gone. When I first wrote to Mr. Woolliams in the 1980s inquiring after obtaining rare tropical plants he responded with words of encouragement and high spirit. This was at a formative time for me and I will be ever grateful for that meeting by mail. Keith is one of those rare individuals who is blessed by, and motivated to help others through, his love of plants. Keith taught me much about what a plant collection is for and how it is best utilized-- that institutions, nurseries, collectors and scientists are all engaged in a mutual pursuit where the sharing of knowledge and plants is the essential mission.
Condolences and blessings to Keith's family and friends.
| Willi (Bill) Garnett |
He changed my life (vis Facebook) |
December 6, 2013 |
...He hired some big tall surfer out of the tour department in 1983 and I've been lucky enough to have spent the rest of my life working with rare plants in some of the best places in the world!
| Fabienne Trebouvil |
So sorry to hear the news (e-mail rec'd) |
April 16, 2012 |
April 13:
Hi Angela,
... I was sorry to hear about your father passing away ... I guess your taking care of his website is your way of coping with it, keeping his memory alive...
Best regards,
Fabs
