Dr. Wilfred Borden Schofield

Dr. Wilfred Borden Schofield 81, beloved father of Linda, Muriel, and Pamela, and grandfather to Aisha, Elise, Shayden and Kai, passed away peacefully in the early morning of November 5, 2008 at Marion Hospice in Vancouver, following a brief battle with cancer. Wilf (b. Brooklyn Corner, NS, 1927) attended Acadia University with the aim of becoming a certified school teacher, but his passion for mosses led him into graduate work. He attended Stanford University (1954-56) for his MSc, where he met the love of his life, Margaret Irene (nee Bledsoe; d. 2005), through mutual friends. Peggy was completing her Masters in piano, and Wilf shared her love of classical music. They were engaged to be married after a one-month courtship. Their honeymoon in the Arctic, where Wilf conducted field research, produced many fond memories. A doctoral degree from Duke University followed in 1960, and that year he joined the faculty of the botany department at UBC. As an emeritus professor, up to the month before his passing, he was actively conducting research, writing scholarly texts, teaching and mentoring. His research took him to numerous places around the world, including New Zealand, Japan, Australia and Tasmania. Field work conducted in Alaska over the last 15 summers will provide data for a book on the Aleutian moss flora. The text will be completed posthumously through the generosity of friends and colleagues. Over the years, a number of mosses, other non-vascular plants, and one flowering plant have been described in his honour. Wilf's greatest joy was sharing his enthusiasm for bryophytes. He loved, in almost equal measure, literature, classical music, art, and a good cup of tea. In addition to countless colleagues and former students, he will be greatly missed by his daughters, grandchildren, sister Vera, brother-in-law Turner, nieces, nephews, cousins, and extended family. A memorial to celebrate his life will be held in the spring. Details will be announced soon on www.caringbridge.org/visit/wilfschofield