Kenneth W. Tate, a professor in the UC Davis Department of Plant Sciences and a UC Cooperative Extension specialist, died unexpectedly on June 5, 2025, at the age 58. He is remembered for his leadership in rangeland science and management and for his mentorship of students and other researchers.
Dr. Donald J. Durzan was chair of the former UC Davis Department of Pomology from 1981 to 1985. He is remembered for groundbreaking research in conifer biochemistry and his contributions to the forestry industry, as well as to advances in fruit and nut crops.
Vincent D’Antonio, longtime UC Davis staff research associate in vegetable crops, passed away at 74. He supported celery and Brassica breeding for 30 years and is remembered for his dedication, kindness, and love of sports.
Pioneering plant geneticist Raymond C. Valentine, co-founder of Calgene and advocate for molecular farming, died March 9 at 86. His work transformed agriculture and led to the first genetically engineered food crops.
G. David Miller, founder and director of the UC Davis Global Fellowships in Agricultural Development program and a collaborator in the Horticulture Innovation Lab, died Dec. 1, 2022, in Davis.
Albert Fischer, a professor emeritus of weed ecophysiology in the UC Davis Department of Plant Sciences, was recently named the recipient of the Outstanding International Achievement Award by the International Weed Science Society. Shortly after the award was announced, Fischer passed away on Nov. 22 in Davis, Calif. He was 72.
Trisha “Tris” Nicole Sabay Yasay, a promising UC Davis Plant Sciences student, tragically passed away in a car collision on May 25. Known for her passion for plants, sustainability, and writing, she leaves a lasting impact on her peers and faculty.
UC Davis Plant Sciences professor Kentaro Inoue, 47, was killed in a bicycle crash on Aug. 31, 2016 on West Capitol Avenue in Sacramento. Police said Inoue and a truck were both going west -- Inoue, with a helmet on, riding in the bike lane -- when the truck turned into Inoue's path, and the bike and truck collided.
