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YSU Herbarium named for late biology prof
By Denise Dick
YOUNGSTOWN
Carl F. Chuey, a Youngstown State University biology professor, grew the university’s herbarium from about 200 plant specimens in 1967 to about 115,000.
YSU dedicated the herbarium inside Ward Beecher Hall in Chuey’s memory at a Thursday morning gathering. Chuey, who died last spring at 70, left a $100,000 gift to establish a program endowment to fund the herbarium, a room that houses a collection of dried plants.
Chuey believed in hands-on learning, said Gary Walker, professor and chairman of YSU’s biological sciences department. His students collected samples of plant specimens rather than just seeing examples in textbooks.
“What Carl did was become the driving force for the development of a research-based herbarium,” Walker said.
The herbarium is the fourth-largest of the 35 in Ohio. It includes specimens from 90 countries, all 50 states and six continents.
Chuey also recognized the need for such information to be available in digital form so it could be accessed by researchers around the world, Walker said.
The university is in the process of digitizing that information.
But Chuey wasn’t just a researcher.
“He had a dedicated following of students,” Walker said.
Nicholas Karousis, a YSU biology student, is one of them, although he knew Chuey for only three years.
“Even the first time I met him, he was unbelievably kind and genuinely interested in what I was doing as a student and where I wanted to go,” he said.
Chuey had a great sense of humor and was an approachable teacher.
“He was a wonderful person, and I really miss having him around,” Karousis said. “I’m glad I got to be a student of his.”
Jean Engle, a retired YSU employee, met Chuey in 2009 while both served on the Campus Beautification Committee.
“He was a legend on campus for those of us who care about trees and plants,” she said.
YSU President Jim Tressel didn’t know Chuey, but said the late professor dedicated 47 years of his professional and personal life to the university. Chuey earned a bachelor’s degree from YSU in 1966, a master’s from Ohio University in 1969 and a doctorate from Ohio State University. In 1971, he was presented an honorary doctorate of education from Ohio Christian College.
James Chuey, Chuey’s brother, said YSU was his brother’s life. He promoted it wherever he went. “Thank you for honoring him,” James Chuey said. “It’s truly heartfelt.”