Remembering Graeme Berlyn

In memory of Professor Graeme P. Berlyn

It is with great respect and admiration that I honor the memory of Professor Graeme P. Berlyn, who played a pivotal role in shaping my academic and professional journey. When I first met Professor Berlyn at Greeley Lab in the summer of 1983, I was deeply impressed by his warmth, intellect, and genuine curiosity about the world. Not only was he my advisor during my Ph.D. program at Yale, but he also demonstrated a special connection to Korea – evidenced by his understanding of Korean history and his dedication to learning Taekwondo under Master In Soo Hwang in New Haven. He welcomed my wife and me with open arms, offering continuous encouragement throughout our time at Yale.

Professor Berlyn’s mentorship was instrumental in my academic growth and success. His dedication to his students went far beyond academic guidance; he instilled in me a profound sense of curiosity and commitment to ecological research and forest growth that has guided my work ever since. His support laid the foundation for my contributions in academia and public service, both in Korea and globally, as I sought to expand upon the principles I learned under his guidance.

In 1990, I had the honor of inviting Professor Berlyn to Korea to deliver lectures on forestry and environmental issues. He accepted without hesitation, and his insights left a lasting impression on all who had the privilege of attending. His visit also gave me the opportunity to show him the diverse landscapes of Korea, which was a deeply meaningful experience for both of us.

Professor Berlyn’s influence has extended far beyond my time at Yale. His teachings and values have been an enduring source of inspiration throughout my career, from my work in Korea as a professor and president to my contributions to international organizations such as INTECOL and others. I am forever grateful for his guidance and friendship.

On behalf of my wife and our two children – both born during our time in New Haven – I wish to extend our deepest condolences to Dr. Mary Berlyn & Professor Berlyn’s family and loved ones. His legacy lives on through the countless lives he touched, and I wish for his soul to rest in eternal peace.

Eun-Shik Kim

M.F. 1985 / M.Phil. 1985 / M.S. 1986 / Ph.D. 1988, Yale University, USA
B.S. 1981 / M.S. 1983, Seoul National University, Korea
Professor Emeritus / Past Dean, Kookmin University, Seoul, Korea
Past President, International Association for Ecology (INTECOL)
Past President, East-Asian Federation of Ecological Societies (EAFES)
Past President, Ecological Society of Korea (ESK)

Graeme and I became compadres while I was working at Greeley in 95-96. Over cups of tea we chatted about Judaism and Yiddish language, our dogs, lots of basketball and tennis talk, and the potential for plant/crop production in increasingly climate affected/vulnerable areas. His wisdom is still so pertinent in my thinking, and I value that time with him greatly. That he took the time to have those talks (often also with Tom Siccama), and cover such varied terrain is a testament to his curiosity, dedication to students, and his experiences. He was one of the most committed and professional scientists I ever met. The world is a better place because of Graeme.

רו אין שלום גוטער מענטש

Ru ayn shalom guter mentsh. (Rest in peace, good man.)

May his memory be always a blessing.

Professor Graeme Berlyn: My Mentor, My Friend.
Professor Graeme Berlyn is no more, and his passing leaves a profound void in my heart. I first met him around mid-September 1973 when I was a new arrival from India at the Forestry School. At that time, he was perhaps the most flamboyant and physically fit faculty member at the school. Initially, I was quite intimidated by his gruff, deep voice.

I took both of his courses and got to know him well. We had lively discussions about the mode of water transport in tall trees. Even though I was often inarticulate, and my ideas were half-baked, he listened to me attentively and even communicated them to Professor Zimmerman, a well-known tree physiologist at the Harvard Forest. During this time, I learned how to read and critique a research article. I vividly remember his teachings on wood properties—reaction wood, compression wood, and so forth—standing next to trees during our field trips.

I recall the day when he and his wife Mary attended a dinner hosted by the International Student Center, right next to Greeley Hall. I worked next to his office, and sometimes over the weekends, he would come in and sing. He had a good voice. From 1973 to 1975, he was working on his book with Jerome Miksche, and they would take turns reading it aloud for clarity of presentation.

Once, he told me that his father ran a restaurant or shop in Chicago, which was a popular meeting place for many new immigrants. He showed me a few lines in a book where this was mentioned. Perhaps he inherited his warm-hearted nature from his father, for he showed the same warmth to anyone who knocked on his door. Interestingly, he was the only one in the entire U.S. who would call me by my full name, even until his last days.

Since I live in Boston, I often visited New Haven and would religiously go to Greeley Hall unannounced. Sometimes I would see him, but most times, not. I even took one of my best friends from my college days in India and his wife to meet him. He was extremely happy to see them and posed with us for photos.

When I was looking for post-doctoral positions, he wrote recommendations for me. Needless to say, his recommendations were honored, enabling me to survive and thrive professionally. I introduced my wife and children to him, and he was always kind to us.

Over the last five decades, Professor Berlyn saw me grow—from a clueless international student to a family man and a scientist. He was more than a mentor to me; he was a constant source of support and wisdom. His belief in me shaped my career and my life. I am deeply grateful to him for his unwavering support, invaluable guidance, and the profound influence he had on my life.

I express my profound condolences to his wife Mary and his children.

During 1981-1986, I was a PhD student at FES. While many faculty and fellow students provided advice and support, Graeme Berlyn’s role as Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) was the most important factor.

Before I applied to FES, I received a “letter of support” from the US Forest Service (USFS) stating their interest in funding my proposed PhD research study at Yale. At that time “human dimensions” of wildlife and forest management were “hot topics.” Graeme was the first person I met when I came for an interview. Afterwards, he helped me obtain a Yale University Graduate Fellowship. This became a key factor in the USFS awarding a grant for my PhD research.

Like many PhD students, there were a few ups and downs during my five years at FES. But, relocating from Sage to Marsh Hall after the first year was a game-changer. In particular, it was the frequent interactions with Graeme, other faculty members (e.g., Dave Smith), and fellow PhD students (e.g., Tim Gregoire) in Marsh Hall and Greely Lab. In also recall useful discussions on a wide range of topics at the informal “Lunch Bunch” sessions at Greeley Lab.

But, it was Graeme’s leadership at my Dissertation Defense that I remember best. In attendance were both FES faculty and external doctoral committee members. Also attending was former FES Associate Dean Jesse Buell. Although “mostly retired,” Jesse provided critical appraisal and advice on many aspects of my dissertation. After I completed my defense presentation, it was “former Dean Buell” who Graeme called on first to ask questions. Jesse was immensely proud when this occurred — and so was I.

There is an African proverb that says “It takes a village to raise a child.” During my time at FES Graeme was the village chief.

Professor Berlyn was a passionate teacher and researcher. He taught me nearly everything I know about plant physiology. His dedication to research and to F&ES/YSE were and remain an inspiration to everyone who knew him and loves what they do. Thank you, Professor.

Graeme has been a dear mentor and friend that I’ve cherished since I met him as a new master’s student at Yale in 2010. I fondly remember spending many days/evenings in his lab discussing plant biology (and giving treats to his dog), and I credit him as the catalyst who pushed me to broaden my academic horizons. After a lot of discussion on life journey and potential paths, he convinced me to follow my scientific passions into a PhD in molecular biology and remained a close mentor through my academic career at Harvard. Beyond being a brilliant scientist and an incredible mentor, Graeme was the embodiment of humility and was genuinely fun to spend time with. Seeing Graeme’s smile light up the room when we won the Yale Startup Challenge in 2012 together was such a memorable experience, and having the chance to travel with Graeme from New Haven to Newfoundland (in a van for over a week) was the trip of a lifetime. I will miss him, and count myself lucky for the opportunity to have had such a wonderful person impact my life.

I audited his lectures on tree ecophysiology last year during my visit at Yale. I was astonished at that time that such an old man still have the strength to hold the lecture and pass his precious knowledge to our generation. While I have learned a lot of knowledge on tree physiology in his lecture series, I was deeply inspired by his lifelong journey serving as a scientist, his rich research experiences and wish to carry such spirit in my potential scientific career.

Graeme was my advisor in Yale FES from 2011 to 2013. I remember most his patience and humor and how he made Greeley Lab feel like a second home. I remember his lectures, his ability to talk with students, his particular taste for coffee. Even the times when he prepared a delicious treat for his dog, Neo. I remember him always inquiring about his students, curious of their whereabouts with the love and care of a doting grandfather.
I had the pleasure to be able to visit with him again in 2017 after moving states.
At the end of our conversation, I asked him, “…in the past half a century of teaching, what did you value most here at Yale?
He replied simply: “My students.”

Professor Graeme, you’ll be missed dearly.

Plant physiology, microscopy, family, politics, repartee, kindness, generosity, dogs, specimen preparation, how to treat colleagues and students. I haven’t come to school reunions just to see Graeme, but I never went to a reunion without seeing him. Thank you, Graeme. Love to your family. and to you. Always, Jane.

I was close with Graeme since 2001. I was his student in 2009-2011. I met with him every fall and spring to share goals and celebrate successes. No one else had a greater impact on the trajectory of my life and work. He gifted me with a model of teaching. I will miss him dearly. My condolences to Mary, Dina and Family. In memoria aeterna.

I will always be indebted to Dr. Berlyn for his patience, support, and insights. It is known that I am not alone in receiving these gifts. I hope to repay this debt by giving to others as he did to me.

During my first week at YSE, I wanted to be sure about my career path, as the school had so much to offer. So, I asked Graeme what he would do differently if he went back 40yrs in time. His response was; “same as I’m doing”. First, it seemed daunting, but his response inspired me to follow my passion, and like him, caring for plants. Twelve years later, I’m still dedicated to his legacy in Africa.

To me, Dr. Berlyn was the greatest scholar of our time. In his later years, he dedicated his time to a problem too priceless to place a value on, e.i.– how to sustain food production under climate shocks. As climate warming outpaces plant evolution in the Anthropocene, optimal photosynthesis will decline and fail for all plants when the rising atmospheric temperature causes a high critical leaf temperature that will impair the ability of plant leaves to function in all the ways they do. For the first time at UNFCCC COP28, food production is among the top three agenda. Graeme was ahead of his time, invented and coined the term “Biostimulants”, now a $3.5 Billion market with a $10 Billion global projection by 2030. Graeme is the father of biological crop amendments, and among an elite class of scientists whose scholarly works carved both an entire field and industry. Today, ‘n-hB’ offers the best non-genetic, environmentally friendly solution to moderate climate shocks in crops, the single largest threat to global food security.

I’ll miss our daily afternoon chats over tea and Ivy basketball games with Mary. One day at our regular sushi place, I asked if I could pay this time. He responded; “Acheampong, you get to pay when you make your first million”. Me? I laughed! Seriously, no one believed in me and saw through me as he did. He never gave up on me. He helped me to rediscover myself and my purpose and remained my mentor even through my doctoral studies at Oxford and later, our shared interest in food insecurity in Africa.

Well, life took a turn, so I decided to visit, catch up and together, have tea from the Kericho highland farms in Kenya, but this time, pay for our sushi lunch. It was onboard Amtrak from Boston to New Haven, that I received email of his passing. Although we missed each other by a day, I believe that my ancestors in Africa, and the ancestors of many peoples, await him with open arms in Heaven. And that the humanitarian work he began, shall surely cross the finish line.

Dr. Berlyn, you were a teacher, mentor, protector, and a true friend to me. May you rest in eternal peace!

When I started at Yale Forestry in the mid-70’s, women were fairly rare. And yet, I always felt 100% support in my work and my life from Graeme (or Dr. Berlyn, as we called him then). I spent many hours doing tissue culture and other studies in his lab. I learned, both from his words and actions, not only what it takes to be a scientist, but also to be a mensch. May his memory be a blessing, as indeed his life was, to so many of us.

Hello – it is impossible to fully grasp the impact Professor Berlyn had at FES in his long, long tenure. What a gift we were all given to study with and learn from him, and be inspired by his dedication. Thank you, Professor Berlyn. Rest in peace.

My deepest condolences to Mary and Dina. He was like a second father to me during my graduate studies, and I remain deeply appreciative of his guidance (professional and personal) over the years.

Dr. Berlyn was one of my favorite professors – kind, engaging, patient, and his enthusiasm for his research and sharing knowledge was inspirational. Loved traveling with him in British Columbia. He be missed among his fellow humans but continue as a model for those training people to pursue scientific knowledge!

My deep sympathy to Graeme’s family and closest friends and associates. Professor Berlin was an inspiration to us all in the early days of environmental knowledge gathering and deep scholarship. I feel honoured to have known and learned from him.

My thoughts and prayers are with Prof. Berlyn’s family and Yale Forestry Community. I think the whole planet has lost a wonderful teacher, a fantastic human being and a person who inspired students in various universal matters. I used to describe and compare him with Alexander von Humbold, when asked me who was your main advisor. I feel deeply sad with this news and I know I don’t have words that can describe the internal personal lost I feel. Graeme, always was a persona that knew something in all areas of the Biology, Physiology, Forestry, Geology, etc. His smile and jokes in class were classic, elegant, and really funny. He helped me during my years at Yale and provided me academic and personal support. I will never forget neither his lectures nor his warm soul.

Professor Berlyn,
Last time I saw you 12 years ago in your lab, you received me with your beautiful smile as the first time that we met in 1994.

I am very grateful for the opportunity you gave me and Professor Ashton to be part of your team by working in a project that had brought so much joy in my life.

Your dedication with your students and career is very well recognized by all of your students.

I am very thankful of the short time that we spent together (2 years). However, 2 years transcends to more than 1000 years since you have had a big impact on each of us and the environment. I wouldn’t be writing this note if you wouldn’t have been part of me journey. Your knowledge will keep guiding us as you have done it when you were among us.
Love,
Iliana

Graeme opened up a world for me that I had not previously known, and I still think about many of the concepts he taught me as I explore nature. I’ll never forget the overhead projector and the slides, tools of a bygone era but still so effective at imparting knowledge and ideas. Finally, Graeme and I shared a personal connection through our mutual love of jazz. He was one of my favorite professors at Yale and I’ll miss him.

I worked with Graeme as a staff member from 2004 to 2016. He always had an interesting fact and smile to share. Kind spirit who loved and dedicated his life to his research, his students, and F&ES. We are all blessed to have known him. May he rest in peace.

Graeme was such a solid and supportive presence for so many years. It is astounding to think how many students he helped launch on their careers. I did not get to work with him directly but always enjoyed seeing him again and sharing thoughts and memories. He will be missed by so many!

So sorry to hear this sad news. I always remember the days I sit in your class, worked in your lab and took care of all the plants in the greenhouse. You were a professor, mentor and guide for my study in the US. My thoughts are with you. RIP.

I knew Graeme Berlyn when I was a junior Ph.D. student who was hesitating between ecology and environmental anthropology, and would visit with him often in his lab. He had an amazing appreciation for the history of science, appeared in the stories he told and in his lectures on plant physiology. I remember his great kindness, the friendly and supportive laboratory culture he created, and his deep understanding of the history of his various fields.

My sincere condolences on your loss. Graeme was an inspiration to me and to many of his students. I will miss his thoughtful guidance and warm humor.