DR. RICHARD C. MCCRUM

PORTLAND – Dr. Richard Caswell McCrum, 86, botany and plant pathology, professor emeritus at the University of Maine, Orono, died Dec. 24, 2008, at St. Joseph’s Nursing Home, Portland. He was born Dec. 12, 1922, in Portland, the son of George T. and Clara I. Caswell McCrum. He attended school in Portland, graduating from Deering High School in June 1940. In November 1940, he joined the U.S. Navy, receiving training at Navy Ordinance and Electrical School, San Diego, after basic training. For some 18 months, he was assigned to the USS Conyingham and was aboard when the ship was attacked by Japan, Dec. 7, 1941, in Pearl Harbor. After a period of service with ACORN 15 and ACORN 8, he returned to the USA in November 1944 and was stationed at several airfields in Florida until discharged as a chief aviation electrician’s mate, Dec. 1, 1947. He served as state chairman of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association. Dr. McCrum had also served as past president of its Pine Tree Chapter. Dr. McCrum resumed his education at Jacksonville Junior College, Florida, where he finished his freshman year. In the fall of 1948, he entered the University of Arizona to study botany and horticulture. After his graduation from Arizona with a Bachelor of Science in botany, he became a graduate assistant in the Department of Botany and Plant Pathology at the University of Maine, Orono, in the fall of 1951. In June 1953, he completed work on a thesis and was awarded a Master of Science degree. After a year’s experience in a commercial greenhouse in Falmouth Foreside, Dr. McCrum entered Cornell University at Ithaca, N.Y., spending two years, 1954-1956, in graduate work in plant pathology. After a year of teaching science in the high school in Cincinnatus, N.Y., 1956-1957, Dr. McCrum returned to the University of Maine, Orono, as assistant professor of botany. During a leave of absence in 1962-1963, Dr. McCrum completed work for an advanced degree and was awarded a doctor of philosophy in botany by the University of New Hampshire in June 1964. He was promoted to associate professor at the University of Maine in 1963, to professor in 1972 and to professor emeritus in 1979. Dr. McCrum’s career at the University of Maine, Orono, spanned more than 22 years and includes many notable contributions to the science of pathology. He became recognized as a leading authority on apple virus diseases and authored the first illustrated review of them in 1960. The commercial orchard industry will remember him for his contributions toward the establishment of virus-free apple stocks. He was for three terms the chairman and secretary of a regional project on apple viruses and authored a comprehensive review on the progress of this ongoing project. Also known for his talents in developing special equipment and techniques, he was the first to use the ultracentrifuge, electrophoresis apparatus and the electron microscope in the study of plant viruses in Maine. In addition to his work on apple viruses, he was also active in the study of potato diseases, particularly as part of his contribution to graduate study at Maine. Seven graduate students received their Master of Science degrees under his direction and several of them went on to obtain their doctor of philosophy degrees at other institutions. He participated in the affairs of the American Phytopathological Society, serving as a president of the Eastern Regional Division in 1971. He was likewise very active in Orono/Old Town Kiwanis, serving as its president in 1976-1977, and further served his community as assistant Scoutmaster, Scoutmaster and chairman of Orono Troop 47 Boy Scouts of America, one of the oldest Scout troops in America. He was a member of Church of Universal Fellowship, Orono and also was a member of Alpha Zeta, Sigma Xi and Phi Sigma fraternities. Dr. McCrum was married to the former Arlene Constance Bentz, who at the time was a Yeoman first class, U.S. Navy Reserve, and they resided for many years in Orono. Starting in 1979 they wintered in Florida, after which they moved permanently to Palmento, Fla., where they spent 19 happy years in retirement. During this time Dr. McCrum wrote a book about his military service in World War II entitled “Dear Mom: World War II Remembered in a Sailors Letters,” published by the University of Maine Press in 1994. Dr. McCrum was also an accomplished artist with many art shows and exhibitions to his credit. After his wife, Arlene’s, death in 2000, who he was married to for 55 years, Dr. McCrum eventually moved back to a retirement complex in Portland. In addition to his wife, he was predeceased by three brothers, Robert M., Laurence D. and Frederick F. McCrum. He is survived by several nieces and nephews. At Dr. McCrum’s request, there will be no visiting hours. A graveside service will be held 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 24, 2009, at Evergreen Cemetery, Portland. Arrangements are by Jones, Rich & Hutchins Funeral Home, Portland.