Rotor also did some nice work with the cultivation of paphiopedilums. The orchid community will find it hard to replace him.
Will > Dr. Gavino B. Rotor Jr., of Signal Mountain, died Tuesday, March > 8, 2005, > at his home. He was born in Manila, Philippines, March 26, 1917, > the son > of Engracia and Gavino B. Rotor Sr. A graduate of the University > of the > Philippines with a bachelor's degree, he came to the United States > in 1946. > He entered Cornell University, where he received his master's > degree and in > 1952, he was the first person in the nation to receive his Ph.D > for his > study on the growth and flowering of orchids. At Cornell, he was > a member > of Phi Kappa Phi and was elected to the Society for Advancement of > Research. From 1954 to 1958, he worked at Rivermont Orchids on > Signal > Mountain as director of research. In 1957, he was guest speaker > at the 4th > World Orchid Congress in Hawaii on his use of Colchicine to > increase > chromosome count in Cattleya orchids. In 1958, he and fellow > Cornell > graduate, Bob Enck, founded Crestwood Orchids on Fairmount Road, > Signal > Mountain. Here they amassed an outstanding collection of rare and > fine > orchids. Their orchid exhibits were always greatly admired at the > orchid > shows held in Mid-America. In March 1979, Crestwood Orchids > received the > Gold Medal Certificate for its exhibit in the Tennessee Valley > Orchid Show > in Chattanooga. In 1961, he was appointed as Judge for the Mid- > America > Judging Center in St. Louis, Mo., and in 1983; he became an > American Orchid > Society Judge Emeritus. He is survived by his friend and partner, > Bob > Enck; sister, Cora (Fidel) Decastro; nieces, Eva Swenson and Rita > Bailey; > great-niece, Lisa Valencia-Swenson. Graveside services will be 2 > p.m. > Friday at Chattanooga Memorial Park with the Rev. Father Peter > Iorio > officiating. Visitation will be 2-6 p.m. today and 12:30 -1:30 > p.m. Friday > at the funeral home. Visit www.lane-coulterchapel.com > <www.lane-coulterchapel.com. Arrangements by Lane Funeral Home, > Coulter > Chapel, 601 Ashland Terrace. 877-3524. > _______________________________________________ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) orchids@orchidguide.com http://orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids_orchidguide.com
