Robert Geesink (1945—1992)

6 Pages·1993·0.91 MB·Afrikaans

by  Baas, Pieter

Dr. Robert Geesink
(PhotographRuth vanCrevel, 1985)
BLUMEA 37 (1993) 265-269
RobertGeesink
(1945—1992)
On 2September 1992Rob Geesinkdiedaweek before he wouldhavereached the
age of47. Hehadbeenassociatedwith theRijksherbarium fromhis studentdays in
the sixtiesonwards. For his MScprogrammehesuccessfully revised thePortulaca-
ceae for Flora Malesianaand carried out an experimental-ecological study ofthe
genusBangia (red algae). In 1971hereceivedhis congratulatory (‘cumlaude’) MSc
degree. From1972to 1974hewasexecutivetaxonomistintheThai-Dutchcoopera-
tiveproject fortheFloraofThailand, apost duringwhichhemadefourbotanicalex-
plorations. In 1976hewas finally appointed onthestaffoftheRijksherbarium, from
1987toearly 1990as ProjectLeaderoftheresearch groupforTropicalPhanerogams.
Rob’stalentsandinterestscovered aunique andbroadrange;fromhandy-man to
theorist,andfromefficiency improvement inthe dailyroutineofplant collecting and
taxonomyto theapplication ofinformationtheory in evolution.As astudentheim-
pressed his supervisors Van SteenisandDenHartog, whenhe developed adeviceto
shake and aerate algal cultureswith the aidofspare motorcycle parts. Later ‘inven-
tions’includedtheuseofabottlecapincombinationwithanelectric cigarette lighter
toboilandrehydrate delicateherbariumfragments, a noise-reducing exhaust foren-
gines, anda do-it-yourselfaltimeterfortrees. His eyeforthepractical isalsoappar-
ent from theenthusiasmwithwhich hetooktheinitiativetoproduce, together with
othercolleagues, a fully revised version of Thonner’s ‘Key to the Families of
Flowering Plants’, from theproduction ofa punched cardkey to thegeneraofSE
AsianLeguminosae, andfromhisanalysis ofpracticalchanges neededtoever com-
pleteFlora Malesiana.During his PhD study, initially aimed at a revision ofthe
genusMillettia,but latermodified to a generic treatment ofthe tribe Millettieae
(‘Scala Millettiearum’,published in 1984), Rob had felt a strongneedfor amore
thorough knowledge oftheoretical aspects of systematics, especially of phylo-
genetics. Insights developed during broadand intensive background reading were
sharedwith students andcolleagues through introductory manualsand in regular
reading and discussion circleswhich RobinitiatedbothinLeidenandWageningen,
and which are continuedafter his deathwitha nation-wideattendance. In the last
yearsRob was especially interestedin thenewly developed theory ofevolutionas
anentropic process as wellas in thephilosophy ofsystematic science. Hemustbe
given credit forintroducing modern cladistics and historical biogeography tothe
Rijksherbarium.
As acolleague Rob couldbea very helpful and warmperson, whopicked his
friends without prejudice and who had a healthy dislike forthe status factor. His
kindness was very real,and hedidnot attemptto showany whenconventionwould
266 BLUMEA Vol. 37, No. 2, 1993
havebeentheonly motive. Theparty hethrewinanold castleontheoccasionofhis
PhDwith a MediaevalBreughelian dinnerto be eaten with barehandsand with a
teasing jestertoenliven theoccasion illustrateshistastefortheunconventional.His
hobbiesranged frommotorcycle technology andstereoscopic photography toclassi-
cal, neoromanticmusic. Recordings ofthelatterwere played inhis tenton fieldex-
peditions, and some Mahlerand Wagner compositions musthave soundedforthe
firsttimeinfar-away forests.
Thelastfour years were difficultones. Taking his task as project leaderofthe
tropical groupvery seriously and committedtotheaccelerationoftheprogressofthe
FloraMalesianaproject, Rob gradually becamedisillusionedby the lack of direct
success,and bywhatheconsideredas lack ofsupportfortheintroductionofprofes-
sionalresearch management.Theseproblems were compounded by apersonal ambi-
valencebetweenfullcommitmentto ademanding Floraprojectontheonehand,and
tofundamentalaspects ofsystematics ontheother. Early 1990heresigned as project
leader.Late 1991heasked tobereleasedfrom alltaxonomicrevision work on the
Papilionoideae, andtomovetotheInstituteofTheoreticalBiology, to devotehimself
entirelytophylogenetic andtheoreticalsystematics andevolutionary theory. Discus-
sionswere wellunderway tocreate a joint working groupbetween thetworesearch
institutionswhen,in June 1992,Robsuffered aseriousbrain haemorrhage whileon
vacation.Justbefore hehad been actively preparing his contributionforthe Willy
Hennig Symposium in Parislater that summer, to which he had muchlooked for-
ward.
Robleavesarich inheritancetoall thefieldshetouched inhis versatile,buttoo short
professional life. His ideas on systematics and evolutionare carried forwardby a
numberofstudents andcolleagues. His earliercontributionsto taxonomyandplant
identificationwillalsoremainoflong-lasting value,andthePapilionaceae treatment
forFloraMalesianawill beonthesoundbasisofallthepreparatorywork hehadin-
vestedinthefamily. Lettersreceivedfromfriends andcolleagues allover theworld,
followinghis death,testify tohis helpfulandkindheartednature. TheRijksherbarium
andInstituteofTheoreticalBiology are greatly indebtedto himforhis contributions
toresearch, teaching, collectionmanagementandto general awareness.
Our sympathy goes to his wifeDiaand his three childrenWillem, Anne-Hess and
Janna.
PieterBaas& RinoZandee
Eponymy:
— Xanthopbyllum geesinkii R. van der Meijden— In:Leiden Bot.Ser. 7 (1982) 95.
— Geesinkorchis de Vogel—In:Orchid Monographs1 (1986)43.
— Argostemma geesinkiiB. Bremer—In: Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard. 76 (1) (1989)25.
— Cyrtandra geesinkianaB.L.Bum —In:EdinburghJ.Bot. 47 (3) (1990)214.
BibliographyofR. Geesink 267
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268 BLUMEA Vol. 37, No. 2, 1993
1980
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1985
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