Keith R. Woolliams

I arrived in Bermuda in February, 1966 to discover that a “Welcome the New Arrival” party was planned that evening.  This was my first introduction to Keith, Anne, who was to become my wife 12 months later, and the entire management team at Coral Beach Club.  And what a team it was!  This was also my first (and, incidentally, only) encounter with Black Rum (Goslings Black Seal) and Coca-Cola!  Soon thereafter, I discovered the delights of Barbados rum, and it became my beverage of choice, with water or ginger ale.  I mention this as going out for drinks was a very important part of the social life at Coral Beach Club!   Many of us were “Brits”. So it was natural that we would stick together, but it seemed that Keith, Anne and I would spend even more time in each other’s company.  There is no doubt that our senses of humour had a lot to do with this and even after more than….T-H-I-R-T-Y – F-I-V-E  - Y-E-A-R-S (an old line from a British radio comedy series). I can still hear Keith saying those words and laughing uproariously every time.  What fun we had in those crazy days.  It was quite normal for us to leave the property at 9 or 10 pm to go into Hamilton and go to The Forty Thieves or one of several other night clubs.  Goodness knows what time we got back and how on earth did we manage to function the following mornings?  But we were young then, and we had the stamina for it.  It was through Keith that we (Anne and I) met his cousin, David, who was our only contact in Vancouver when we got off the boat in 1967.  David and Maureen became very close friends, and it was clear to see the Woolliams trait of helpfulness, kindness and generosity.

Over the course of our year in Bermuda, Keith became our very best friend there and the only person with whom we have remained in touch. After our visit to Keith and Akiko when they were on Oahu, we stayed in touch, even through our divorce and marriage to others.  It was particularly nice to have them in Oregon, very near to the Interstate 5 freeway – our normal route to and from the southern US.  Jane and I tried to plan our travel itinerary home to coincide with a meal with the Woolliams.  Normally, it was dinner, but the last time we saw Keith, it was for breakfast just last May. We particularly enjoyed seeing Keith and Akiko with Me-Chan, a few years ago when they were in Vancouver, and Jane and I were invited to dinner with Anne and Dick. Although this is all about Keith, we did enjoy hearing all about Me-Chan’s exploits in Antarctica. It impressed us with how very proud Keith was of her accomplishments.

Like so many others, we were so sad to hear of Keith’s death.  He has clearly left this world a very much better place both professionally and socially.

My memories of Keith are from childhood . He managed to get up to so much mischief, but I now see it was what made him Keith. He learnt how to delegate responsibility by getting his mates or twin sisters to do all his jobs for him, so that by the time he started work, he had plenty of experience with being the boss. He also took my red tricycle and had races down the middle of the road with his mates. I so really hated him then, and here we are... we became best of friends, and he always included me in his life and showed me the world. My life would have be a very boring one without his and his family's influence. I will always miss him but hope he is now with my Sanya and the family.

Most people will remember my dad for the contributions he has made in the Horticultural world. I grew up telling everyone that my dad was "the world's leading authority in tropical plants", and I recently had a talk with him in where I told him how truly proud I was of all that he has accomplished and that he should be proud as well as I am sure that his name will come up again and again as new generations study Horticulture and Hawaiian flora. He truly was a pioneer in the field, and I am so proud of all he accomplished during his career. Dad, I truly hope you know that your life's work was not in vain and that you had the opportunity to impact so many lives and that your legacy lives on through those people who you have touched and will be remembered for years to come.

I, however, remember him so fondly for completely different reasons. It's weird how we all go through different "chapters" in our lives. In this third chapter of my life, I am proud to say that I carry with me all the lessons he taught me. Even when I didn't realise the value of what I was being taught, he gave me extreme work ethic, sense of right and wrong and the unwaivering belief that you have to stand up for what you believe in. I am so proud to say he taught me those things, and that will be the legacy he passes on to my children and the generations to come. As any father and son, we, of course, had our differences during my "teen years"; however, I always knew he was there for me and that I could count on him and go to him with anything and that he would, of course, give me his strength and opinion on how to handle anything. As I get older, I realise exactly how much of him I have in me. Daddy, I will take those lessons with me and promise to do all I can to make you proud of me. You gave me the strength to fight for the life I have and guided me through the rough times, reminding me that it will all work out in the end and to stay strong. Thank you, because I love my life and owe so much of it to you.

As a grandfather, he was amazing. My girls will only know one "Grandpa" in their lives as their mother's father passed before they were born. Watching him with them are some of the fondest memories I will ever have in my life. I loved watching them work in the garden with him and get so excited to grow vegetables and even appear to have the "green thumb" that I was not born with. With them, he was playful, joking, caring and compassionate and even somewhat patient. Yes, I said patient, believe it or not... Much more patient than he was with me or even Me-Chan. As time went on, he became better and better at his role and will be a "grandpa" they will remember and cherish for the rest of their lives. A part of the way he was with them will teach them how to be better grandparents to their own children, and I know they will remember him fondly. I had a talk with my dad before Taryn and Kayla were born, and I asked him to be as involved in their lives as possible as I wanted them to know him and why I loved him so much. I know for a fact that they know and feel how much you love them, Daddy. You did a wonderful job and thank you from the bottom of my heart for being so great with the girls and for being the greatest "Grandpa" I could have ever asked for Taryn and Kayla. 

Taryn recently saw a Christmas ornament which read "Grandma, you are the heart of our family" and immediately told me that was how she felt about Grandma and had to get it for her. "Daddy, you were the strength of our family", and I will do all I can to fill that roll for you and take care of everyone. I may not be as strong as you were, but you taught me well and I promise I will do my best, so don't you worry. It's my turn now. 

Thank you for being a wonderful man, a wonderful husband, a wonderful father and a wonderful Grandpa. Thank you for all you did for me and for the lessons you taught me.  I will forever love you and be proud of you and all you managed to accomplish in your life, both professionally and personally, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for being my daddy.

 

... My favorite memory of him is a picture that we took in my mothers ratty kitchen, with Keith wearing mother's appron helping her wash dishes and clean up the kitchen! A truly wonderful man! Frank and Me-Chan may have been too young to remember much about that visit, but we had such fun together. I regret that we are so far away that we have not had the opportunity to spend more time together. This world will be a poorer place without Keith with us...

Dear Grandpa,
We all miss you dearly but time goes on. So I would like to share our memories with each other. That way you will never forget.

Recently Dad told me that because I was born you learned to love family more. When Dad was growing up you still loved family but you always worked. But after I was born you learned to love family although I was a stubborn and a terrible 2's child, you still loved family.

I remember that every single time we watched that British Comedy we laughed and stared at the same times. As I look back I always laugh at how we did the same things at the same time. Also I remember that you loved showing me about my culture and every new things from England.

My most special times were Christmas just like today. If I remember correctly, you never smiled in any pictures from when I was born and now except on Christmas. That's how you got your name Grumpy Grandpa.

At the party celebrating your life I looked at a photo album Grandma made and your favorite picture was you staring at a mushroom, why is it that you like that picture so much? Maybe one day you will tell me yourself.

Dad told me that you wrote a realistic story on your life as a kid, also known as a novel. And that you didn't write all of your life because Grandma can tell us the rest.

Got to go,
-Taryn

キース君のWebsiteを見ました。

キース君がキノコを見つめている写真と、静かにろうろうと流れる音楽を聴いて、久子と涙ぐんでしまいました。

千の風の詩と音楽も、キース君が光と音と風になって、今、そこにいるような気がしてやさしくつつまれている感じがします。

キース君は、私たちと共にいます。

 

寄せられたメッセージは、それぞれのかたがたの思い出と交友のかずかずが見られ、キース君の

人生のいろどりの豊かさと深さを感じます。

 

私達は、キース君と過ごした日々がなんと貴重でかけがえのないものであったことだろうと思います。

キース君、ありがとう。

キース君、さようなら。

キース君、いつも一緒に居てください。

 

重男、久子

We saw this website.

Looking at the photo of Keith studying the mushroom while his favorite melodies are continuously playing in sonorous rhythms, we were moved to tears. The wording and music of the "A Thousand Winds" song made us feel as though Keith is here softly surrounding us as light, sounds and wind. We feel Keith's presence with us.

All the messages sent to this site show many facets of his friendship with people, as well as the memories of friends and collegues which prove the richness and depth of Keith's life.

We remember the days we spent together; they were such precious and meaningful times.

Thank you, Keith.
Farewell, Keith.
Stay with us forever, Keith.

Shigeo & Hisako                          Translated by Akiko 1/12/2012

This past week I have thought so much about Keith and how fortunate I was to have known him. Most of all I keep thinking of Keith's knowledge and dedication to plants and what a loss that has been since he left Hawaii. I know of no one who had that thorough knowledge and sincere love of plants and knew how to grow plants for success and beauty.

I don't recall Keith ever talking disparagingly about anyone and while I endured continual political turmoil while I worked in Hawaii, Keith was always there to keep me sane and thinking rationally. Whenever I had challenges to deal with Keith helped me to find a solution.
Only this very week I found myself pop-riveting plant labels to their stakes, remembering that Keith had already found the solution that resolved the problem once and for all and shared the solution with me at the HBG as we started our "in house" labeling.

Keith contributed so much to Hawaii and touched more people than he ever realized. He was so humble that he never realized how much help, support and inspiration he provided to our son Matt and to both Terry and me. When we told Matt of Keith's passing he took some time to revisit many of the plants that Keith had shared with him and are now growing at our farm.

I rarely found anyone with whom I could enjoy "talking plants" as I did with Keith. His extensive knowledge always added to my knowledge; his knowledge that was founded on sound education and experience as a true horticulturist. I was looking forward to spending more time with Keith when we both aged and it is with sincere regret that we are denied that time together; Keith you were and are and will be with me in spirit as I continue growing plants that we both loved. Who will I call when I have plant questions? Who will have the answers?

Our hearts ache over our loss which is paled by your loss. He will be missed.

Please stay in touch and should you find yourself considering a stop in Hawaii when travelling back and forth to Japan, please consider our home open to you and your family.

It is when everyone is gone and you are left with the silence in your life that your heart will ache beyond words. May you take comfort in realizing how much we cared for your husband and that you remain in our hearts as well

Taxonomic accuracy is next to Godliness!
 
This is what sticks in my head when I recall meeting with Keith in his office to discuss the future of native Hawaiian plant propagation.  Keith had made a label that had this slogan printed on it above his desk. He made us all see the value in this, and it has carried through all of the work I have done relating to botany and Hawaiian culture.  Geneology is the essence of human connections here in Hawaii, and we value this, don't we?  He was a stickler for details, and it always made me nervous when he decided to leave the office and go through the nursery. I wondered if I forgot to put a label on my personal stuff and properly wrote"Not Accession" on the label.  He would actually throw pots in the air while walking if i had not done the set up properly. He did remind me of a Grumpy Grandpa sometimes, Akiko, but I mostly took it as him having high standards.

When he hired me I told him I had not much experience with plants, but I enjoyed working with the Arboretum staff when we cleaned up the valley after the great flood of 1990. His reply was" Good. You don't have any bad horticultural habits "  Josephine took me under her wing and showed me the ropes.  She is truly my sensei as horticultural practice is concerned.  Keith was like the president of our nation to us. The story of the native Hawaiian flora opened up a wonderful world of connections to my past and helped me get to where I am today.  I have Keith to thank for seeing the value in the native biota and demanding that I pay attention to the Hawaiian story particularly because he told me, "There are not many Hawaiians working in the field of native plant propagation"  That was in the late 80'S.  Times have sure changed since then. 

I have always felt it a privelage to have worked in the valley for Keith and it was exciting to meet all of the people who flocked to the institution for knowledge because of the accuracy of the records and unique living collection.  The story Keith brought to us was way bigger than just plants of Hawaii.  On a world scale, the collection is so valuable because he focused on the tropical belt of the world and island collections. 

I can close my eyes here in Kona, Hawaii, and remember the pathways through the collections and the morning light as it shined through the monkeypod trees putting soft light on the Central and South American B collection along the stream below the hale iwi. I feel that I may see Keith coming around the corner talking with Josie and Severio.  He is there.  His spirit / uhane is in the valley living through the plants and stories we tell of his greatness and passion. I am not done.  I have to get to work.  More later.

このブログを見ただけでも涙が出てきます。キース伯父さんが亡くなった事がまだ信じられないです。

オレゴンへ行けば出迎えてくれてそうな気がします。
浴衣や袢纏・作務衣が似合っていて、納豆を食べる姿が懐かしいです。
私とおばあちゃんがオレゴンに行った時に話してくれた日本語がとても上手でしたね。

博実くんの結婚式の後に「砂漠化を止めたい」と思いついて、インターネットで何かできるかを検索しました。そうして三宅島の植林がヒットしました。・・・砂漠化とは少し違いますが。三宅島は２０００年に噴火をして、木が枯れてしまったとのことでした。農業の経験があるし、行った事のない三宅島に興味が出てきました。

思い付きであったけれど、とても有意義で楽しかったです。
三宅島は外から植物を持ってきて植える事ができないという事で、島に元々生えている植物を植林するしかありません。島のおじちゃん・おばちゃんが育てたヒサカキ・ヤブツバキ等の苗を植えました。こういう事は伯父さんのしてきた仕事に似てるのかな～？なんて勝手に思ってました。伯父さんから「立派な事をしている」とお褒めの言葉を頂き、有頂天になって３年連続で参加しました。２年目には、一緒に参加した中から友達もできました。

今の私の夢は「宮沢賢治になる事」です。
彼は童話作家であり、農業をして、絵を描き、作曲をする。
今は少しでも近づこうともがいています。

今、ちょうどテレビから「Let it be」が流れてきました。キース伯父さんからのメッセージかもしれませんね。
頑張っていきますね。

ありがとうございました。これからも見守ってください。
Ｄａｉｓｕｋｉ!!


Tears streamg down just reading this website. I still cannot believe that Uncle Keith passed away.

It still feels like he will greet me with a smile if I go to Oregon.

I remember that the "Yukata" (summer cotton kimono),"Hanten" (quilted winter Japanese jacket) and "Samui" ( Japanese working clothes) suited him well, and he loved to eat "Natto" (formented soybeans). When Obaachan (my grandma) and I visited Oregon, he spoke to us in Japanese; his Japanese skills were very impressive.

After Frank's wedding, I thought about "Stopping desertification". After searching the internet, I found about the reforestation project on Miyake-jima (one of the Izu 7 Islands). It may not be "desertification" in this case, since the volcanic eruption in 2000 destroyed much of the forests and fauna. My background in agriculture and an interest in this new island inspired me to join. It might have been just a spur-of-the-moment idea, but it was meaningful and fun. 

I found out that only endemic plants from the Miyake Island can be planted, and the project does not allow any introduced plants to be used for this project. All the seedlings of Hisakaki (Eurya japonica) and Yabutsubaki (Camellia japonica: Thea japonica var. spontanca Makino) we plant are grown by the Island's elderly citizens. I thoguht vaguely that this could be similar to the kind of work Uncle Keith was doing in his life, and he told me that what we are doing is very significant and properly done. That made me so excited and motivated. As a result, I returned to the Island three years in a row, and one of the girls who I met during my 2nd year is my friend now.

My dream now is "to be like Miyazawa Kenji". He was a children's story writer, farmer, painter and composer. I am struggling to be like him.

Just now "Let it Be" has been played on TV, and this could be a message from Uncle Keith!

I will try my best.

Thank you very much and please look over us.

"Daisuki" (I love YOU!)