Thursday, June 7, 2012
I am saddened to hear that we have lost one of my favorite professors and a former neighbor. I first encountered Oscar and his wife when I would go up to their place with my parents to buy plants at their little 'farm' on the hill above what is currently Virginia Manor subdivision. We always had fun selecting plants and hearing about their culture from Oscar and Phoebe. Little did I know then, that eventually I would end up in the horticulture program at WVU. While there, I got to know Oscar better, and experience his kind, humorous, and generous, spirit. His classes always made learning great fun, and I devoured his knowledge about so many plants and fruits. I still remember wonderful warm sunny Fall days when I had horticulture lab at the WVU Farm. He was more than happy to share all his practical and technical experience with us. And, of course, when we got to do 'taste tests' of the many varieties of fruits and crops he was growing, we were thrilled. Our family moved to Virginia Manor in Morgantown when I started college. So, Oscar was also a neighbor as well as a professor to me. My parents were friends with he and his wife, particularly though their garden club activities. After graduating from WVU, I left Morgantown and unfortunately never really saw Oscar again. How I would have loved to sit down with him and thank him for the wonderful education I received and how very much I enjoyed his classes. Thank you Oscar, I shall miss you! Your beaming smile and generosity will be always etched in my mind.David J. Pierce WVU Horticulture, class of 1969
