News/Reports
Karel Klinka – 1937 – 2015
From The Friends of Ecological reserves Newsletter Autumn/Winter, 2016
Karel Klinka – 1937 – 2015
It is with great sadness that we share the news that Dr. Karel Klinka, Professor Emeritus of the Forest and Conservation Sciences Department of UBC died on September 15, 2015.
Dr. Klinka was an outstanding ecologist, forester, supervisor, mentor, collaborator and friend. His knowledge of plant distribution and ecology was encyclopedic and his ability to recall Latin names legendary. His research and contributions to biogeoclimatic ecosystem classification provide the foundation for many provincial policies and practices.
Dr. Klinka was born in Czechoslovakia in 1937 and earned his For. Ing degree from Charles University in Prague in 1960. He immigrated to Canada in 1969 and earned his Ph.D. in the Faculty of Forestry at UBC in 1980. He carried on the research of Vladimir Krajina, the father of BC’s Ecological Reserves.
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Professor Emeritus, University of British Columbia
It is with great sadness we announce the passing of Karel on September 15, 2015. Karel will be greatly missed by his beloved wife of 53 years, Irene; his two children, Karel Thomas and Maria; son-in-law, Wilfred; three granddaughters, Polina, Maria, and Daria; sister, Barbara (Prague, Czech Republic); brother, Jan (Victoria, BC); and extended family. Dr. Klinka was born in Prague, Czechoslovakia, June 18, 1937 and went on to study forestry at Charles University, Prague, where he graduated with the earned degree of For. Ing, Faculty of Forestry in 1960. He married the love of his life in 1962 and immigrated to Canada in 1969. He continued his studies and earned his Ph.D. at the Faculty of Forestry, UBC in 1976 under the mentorship of renowned botanist Vladimir Josef Krajina. Karel had a distinguished career holding various positions with the BC Ministry of Forests, and then joined the Faculty of Forestry at UBC in 1980, where he taught Silviculture and carried on the research work of Krajina in plant ecology and ecosystem classification until the end of his university career. His knowledge of plants, their distribution and ecology, was encyclopedic, his field trips were hectic, and his ability to recall Latin names was legendary. He was recognized for his contributions by being awarded the 1977 Distinguished Forester Award (Association of BC Professional Foresters), the 1989 BC Science and Engineering Gold Medal Award, and a 1993 UBC Teaching Prize. He finished his career as a Professor Emeritus, Forestry Science Department, UBC. After his retirement, Karel spent much of his time in Pender Harbour, BC, enjoying the solitude, nature, tending his gardens, and travelling the world. He enjoyed sharing this special place with family and friends. The family would like to thank the staff and nurses at St. John Hospice for their care. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Karel’s name to the B.C. Cancer Agency. A Memorial Service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, September 24, 2015 at St. Augustine’s Catholic Church, 2028 West 7th Avenue, Vancouver, BC. –