Great Man of New Zealand Botany Dies
Dr Eric Godley M.Sc., PhD, FRSNZ, HonFLS, OBE, first President of the New Zealand Botanical Society, veteran member of the Auckland Botanical Society progenitor of the New Zealand Journal of Botany, past Director of the former DSIR Botany Division, world renowned reproductive biologist, botanical historian and mentor to numerous New Zealand botanists passed away yesterday morning (27 June 2010).
Dr Eric Godley (1919-2010) much loved mentor of numerous New Zealand botanists was a well respected and active New Zealand botanist right until the very end of his long life. Eric as he was affectionately known touched the lives of most New Zealand botanists be it through his sage advice, mentorship, and management of people who worked for him during his time as Director of the former DSIR Botany Division, or through his numerous articles chronicling the lives of past New Zealand botanists. Eric was an unassuming man who quickly saw what was needed, looked for the best people to fill those needs and patiently encouraged them to fulfill their destiny. He was once quoted as saying that “if he saw one of his staff on the beach during a work day he would not be concerned because he knew that they would still be thinking about botany”. Photo showing Eric Godley holding a branch of Sophora godleyi - by Peter Heenan.
Eric was an excellent administrator and was pivotal in making the former DSIR Botany Division the great institute of New Zealand Botanical Learning that it became during the 1980s. He was also responsible for bringing to New Zealand such eminent botanists as David Drury and Bill Sykes to study the Asteraceae and naturalised plants. He encouraged the late Andy Thomson to study the life of Leonard Cockayne and ultimately to establish a special research group devoted to the study of New Zealand Botanists and Botanical History. Eric also helped forge the lichen career of David Galloway by convincing the then government of the need for a lichen flora. He also helped push for Brian Molloy’s transfer from the Ministry of Agriculture to DSIR Botany Division. Eric supported plant conservation, cytology and genetics. He took an interest in seaweeds, he liked fungi and saw a need for a Desmid flora. He was a kind, fair, polite and considerate man who said little and did plenty. People today could learn a lot from the example he set.
I remember Eric as a kindly man who wrote encouraging letters to me about my botanical endeavours when I was a teenager, and later as the man who quite correctly admonished me for stupidly destroying the correspondence I once had between myself and the late Jim le Comte of Alouette Nurseries, Ashburton. Eric showed an interest in my work at a time when I was labelled by many as merely “a geologist with botanical inclinations” and he helped get me in touch with many now retired DSIR Botany Division staff, all of whom I still maintain regular contact with today. I feel honoured that along with Peter Heenan we were able to recognise his remarkable contribution to New Zealand botany by naming a kowhai after him - Sophora godleyi. That meant much to Eric because kowhai was one of his enduring loves.
Eric lived a full life and a good life. He will be sorely missed though I am glad that he briefly touched on my life and my career.
Peter J. de Lange
Posted: 28/06/2010