Sylvia “Tass” Kelso, June 8, at age 63. Tass taught at Colorado College for 29 years, specializing in plant systematics and evolution and rising to professor emerita in the Department of Organismal Biology and Ecology.

Tass grew up in New England, and an early fascination with diverse landscapes would be reflected in the arc of her academic career. In 1974, she earned her undergraduate degree from Dartmouth College, graduating magna cum laude with a major in geography and a minor in biology. She came 
to Colorado to earn a master’s degree in geography at University of Colorado-Boulder where she also worked as herbarium assistant in the university’s museum. In 1987, having immersed herself
 in investigations of arctic and alpine flora, Tass earned a Ph.D. in botany at the University of Alaska in Fairbanks.

Tass’ botanical specialties included the systematics and reproductive biology of Primulaceae, a family of herbaceous flowering plants. Upon joining CC in 1987, she found much to research in the Pikes Peak region. She authored papers on topics including grasslands and the floras of southeastern Colorado while also working with students on rare plant conservation and local botanical diversity.

At CC, Tass taught courses in botany, conservation, and evolutionary biology, among other 
subjects, and served a term as department chair. She received awards and honors including the 
Burlington Northern Award for Faculty Achievement in Teaching (1992); the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Professorship (1992-1994); and the Verner Z. Reed Professor of Natural Sciences endowed position (2004-2007).

Tass also curated the Carter Herbarium and served on many important faculty committees, some as chair. Outside of the CC sphere, she was recognized as Outstanding Volunteer by the Colorado Natural Heritage Program, and donated her time to organizations that include the Palmer Land Trust, the Nature Conservancy, and the Colorado Science Advisory committee.

In 1996, Tass married George Maentz, with whom she had collaborated on some local projects. George survives her, as does her mother, Dorothy H. Kelso; her brother, Tony; and a sister, Deb. Tass was predeceased by another sister, Laurie, and her father, James G. Kelso.