Terry R. Webster

STORRS

It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Terry R. Webster, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and father-in-law, age 87, of Storrs, Connecticut, on December 16th, 2025. Terry was known for his warm smile, his deep knowledge of all things plant and garden related, his pride in his family, and his ability to sink a jump shot on the basketball court.

Terry was born on February 10, 1938 in Hamilton, Ohio, and spent his childhood in Middletown, Ohio, with parents Richard and Florence Webster. His childhood was filled with endless happy hours playing baseball and basketball in the neighborhood, swimming and lifeguarding, and working at Boy Scout camp. Terry earned the title of Eagle Scout, showing his love of the outdoors from an early age.

Terry earned a BS from Miami of Ohio University, and a PhD in Botany from the University of Saskatchewan, Canada. He joined the faculty of the Botany Department at the University of Connecticut in 1965, and retired from the Dept. of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology in 1998. Terrys research focused on the developmental morphology of non-seed vascular plants, especially those in the Selaginella family (a small fern). He was the chair of the UConn Greenhouse Committee for many years, and after retiring, he served as an academic advisor, giving excellent one-on-one attention to students. He was a dedicated and creative teacher, and was a recipient of a university-wide Teaching Fellow award.

Terry and his wife Joan met in Saskatchewan, married in Ontario, and were married for

61 years. A couple that was devoted to each other to the end, they enjoyed time with family, trips to warmer climates, and shared an appreciation of jazz and bossa nova with son-in-law Robson. Joan and Terry loved raising a family together in Storrs, with all the beauty of nature, arts activities, and sports events available on campus. They had a shared sense of humor and enjoyed hearty laughs together from their very first date in a Saskatoon coffee shop.

Terry was honest, loyal, hard-working, caring, and he made sure to make time for play and the activities that he loved. He had a great sense of humor, which especially came out when trading tall tales with his gym buddies. He took great joy in tending to his many gardens and yard, and diving into hands-on projects, such as making rustic furniture from wood harvested from his land. He rarely missed an opportunity to take a clipping of interesting plants he encountered to add to his garden. A lifelong athlete, he found great joy playing sports with friends, as well as solo pursuits such as canoeing and swimming. He played basketball through his 70s, loved running, tennis, taking long walks, and was an avid fan of the UConn and NBA basketball teams. Favorite activities included canoeing in the Mansfield Hollow Dam, and driving his Jeep to the beach in Rhode Island. He delighted in playing games with his grandson Lucas, and more recently seeing his grandson grow up and develop an interest in plants and spending time in nature. He shared his knowledge and passions by teaching, leading Greenhouse Friday tours at UConn, and giving guided tours of his own carefully curated fern garden. Through the UConn Museum of Natural History, he led trips to the Turks and Caicos Islands, where his brother-in-law and niece hosted the groups at their beautiful property and restaurant. He was a lifelong learner and avid reader, and also wrote short stories. He will be deeply missed and forever remembered by all who knew

and loved him.

Terry is survived by his wife, Joan Webster, daughter, Jennifer (Webster) Goulart, son-in-law, Robson Goulart, grandson, Lucas Goulart, and beloved nieces, nephews, and a sister-in-law.

The family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to the many caregivers for their compassionate and competent care at the end of Terry's life.

Friends, family, and colleagues are invited to attend a Memorial Service which will be held on Saturday, February 7, 2026 at 1p.m., at Storrs Congregational Church, 2 North Eagleville Road, Storrs, Connecticut. A reception at the church will follow the service.

Those wishing to honor Terry's memory may consider a donation to the Uconn Botanical Conservatory through the UConn Foundation at s.uconn.edu/botancon

For an online memorial guestbook, please visit www.potterfuneralhome.com.

Terry R. Webster