Charles Martin Woolf

1925 - 2016

1925 ~ 2016
Charles Martin Woolf, 91, retired Arizona State University Professor and Administrator, died September 16, 2016. He was born in Salt Lake City, Utah on August 23, 1925, the sixth of seven children of DeVoe and Marjorie McCarthy Woolf. He attended local public schools in Salt Lake City, Uintah and Wasatch Elementary Schools, Bryant Junior High School, and South High School, where his father was principal. At South High School, he was elected a student body officer and participated on several sports teams. He served as an Ensign in the Navy during World War II, stationed at Pearl Harbor. He married Marion Darger on November 9, 1950 in the Salt Lake City Temple. He received his Bachelor's (zoology) and Master's (genetics, botany) degrees from the University of Utah and his Ph.D. (genetics) from the University of California, Berkeley. He was a member of the faculty of Arizona State University and the University of Utah. Additionally, he taught summer school at Harvard University, University of California, Berkeley, and Northeast Forestry University in Harbin, China. At Arizona State University, he served as Dean of the College of Liberal Arts, Vice President for Graduate Studies and Research, and Dean of the Graduate College.
He was a prolific writer and was the author of four books. He also published more than 75 articles in scientific journals summarizing his original research. Throughout his career, he received numerous awards for his outstanding teaching and research. In addition to his scholarly achievements, he was a real gentleman, kind and understanding, to everyone who came into his life. The world lost one of its finest and brightest individuals.
He is survived by his wife, Marion; his children (Stephen Woolf, Gilbert, Arizona; Douglas and Tammy Woolf, Fayetteville, Arkansas; Kathleen Woolf, New York, New York; Richard and Jill Woolf, Woodbridge, Virginia); his brother, Dr. John and Geraldine Woolf, Tucson, Arizona; and his grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and multiple nieces and nephews. His dearly loved grandchildren include Sarah Woolf-King, Leah C. Butler, J.D. Warner, Kisandra and Patrick Burruss, Dimitri A. Warner, Lonnie Woolf, Charles Woolf II, Matira Woolf, Wyatt Woolf, and Bennett Woolf. His precious great-grandchildren are Cal Butler, Hayden Burruss, Charlie King, and Shelby Bernd. He was predeceased by his parents, his brothers (DeVoe M. Woolf, Richard Woolf, Dr. Robert Woolf), and his sisters (Mary Greene Redd and Marjorie Nichols).
A celebration of his life will be held Friday, September 23 at Mariposa Gardens, 400 S. Power Road, Mesa, Arizona. The family will meet with friends from 9:00 to 9:45 a.m., with the funeral starting at 10:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to a scholarship in his name. Make checks payable to the ASU Foundation and mail to ASU College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Dr. Charles M. Woolf Scholarship Fund, PO Box 876405, Tempe, AZ 85287-6405.