[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 124 (Wednesday, September 22, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1918]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               IN MEMORY OF PROFESSOR WILLIAM A. NIERING

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                           HON. SAM GEJDENSON

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 22, 1999

  Mr. GEJDENSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise to express the sorrow felt by many 
across eastern Connecticut following the passing of Professor William 
A. Niering. Professor Niering was an extraordinary teacher, a pioneer 
in the modern environmental movement and a great American.
  Professor Niering was a botanist by training and longtime professor 
at Connecticut College in New London, Connecticut. He was the first 
president of The Nature Conservancy. Founding in 1951, the Conservancy 
operates the largest system of private nature preserves in the world, 
including 1,500 in this country alone. As President of this 
organization, now one of the largest conservation groups in America, 
Professor Niering was an early leader of the modern environmental 
movement.
  Perhaps more than his work on behalf of conserving natural resources 
across the country, Professor Niering will be remembered in 
southeastern Connecticut as a beloved teacher who was dedicated to his 
students. He had an easy-going style and the ability to make extremely 
complex scientific principles understandable and exciting.
  I have submitted an editorial which appeared in The New London Day 
which vividly describes Professor Niering and his many contributions to 
his students, his community and his country. His legacy will endure 
through his efforts to safeguard the natural bounty that makes our 
nation unique in the world and through the countless students he 
taught.

                [From the New London Day, Sept. 1, 1999]

                      Professor William A. Niering

       Professor William A. Niering died Monday as he had lived 
     his life: exciting Connecticut College students about the joy 
     of learning and discovery, and exhorting them to reach to the 
     fullest of their potentials and the best of their instincts.
       Dr. Niering, a botanist, led an accomplished life, and was 
     recognized internationally for his research and environmental 
     activism. But in spite of that celebrity, nothing pleased him 
     more than working with young people in science and 
     conservation. He died just after giving a lecture to students 
     on the subjects of good citizenship and environmental 
     stewardship. That was his commitment, educator and good 
     citizen to the end.
       Connecticut College has a consistent history of producing 
     scholarly academicians who are also outstanding teachers. Dr. 
     Niering was among the best of these throughout the college's 
     long history. It would therefore be most appropriate for the 
     college to create a special scholarship in his name, for it 
     was his service to young people that he cherished above all 
     else. Countless people would want to help create that 
     memorial.
       Dr. Niering, who with his longtime Connecticut College 
     colleague Richard Goodwin was active in natural conservation 
     and environmental causes, was the first president of The 
     Nature Conservancy. The organization is now one of the major 
     environmental institutions in this country.
       Dr. Niering wrote a field guide on plants and flowers for 
     the Audubon Society and organized one of the first college 
     environmental studies programs. He served not only as an 
     adviser to high-powered national groups, but more important, 
     he served the southeastern Connecticut community in myriad 
     ways that protected and enhanced the environment. He always 
     had time to help local groups with environmental issues.
       Quiet, modest and sincere to a fault, Dr. Niering 
     nonetheless could demonstrate outrage when he saw people 
     doing intentional damage to the environment. He never talked 
     down to people whose scientific knowledge and education were 
     much less than his own. Naturally easygoing, he had a relaxed 
     style when he spoke. He always managed to explain complicated 
     topics in terms the average person could understand.
       Legions of college students flocked to his courses, both 
     for the excellence of his teaching and the engaging way in 
     which he welcomed students and helped them flourish.
       Dr. Claire L. Gaudiani, Connecticut College president, 
     explained his values well when she said of Dr. Niering, ``His 
     generosity of spirit, his enthusiasm and his modesty were 
     legendary.''
       The people of southeastern Connecticut join Dr. Niering's 
     colleagues at the college in remembering this good and 
     generous man whose life represented the best of what this 
     country has to offer.

     

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