1924 – 1998 Memorial Service
2-4 p.m. on Saturday, January 16, 1999
Department of Vegetable Crops
IN MEMORIAM ROBERT F. KASMIRE
Robert F. Kasmire was born on October 31, 1924 in Newport, Rhode Island. He died in his Davis home on December 22, 1998. After graduating from Vallejo High School (Vallejo, CA) in June, 1942, Bob served in the U.S. Navy from July, 1942 to December, 1945. He obtained a B.S. in Agriculture in June, 1950 from the University of California at Davis (UC Davis) and returned to the U.S. Navy from October, 1950 till March, 1952. He was employed as a UC Farm Advisor for vegetable crops in Riverside County from December, 1952 till December, 1955. In 1956 Bob was hired as a UC Extension Vegetable Marketing Specialist based at UC Davis. He earned an M.S. in Vegetable Crops from UC Davis in June, 1964. After 34 years of distinguished service, Bob retired on July 31, 1987. Bob developed and conducted a statewide educational program for the produce industry to help producers, shippers, and handlers maintain the quality and safety of fresh produce and reduce losses between production and consumption sites. He conducted problem-solving research on cooling, sizing, packing, handling, ripening, deterioration, transportation, and marketing of vegetables. The results of his research appear in some 250 reports in trade and technical publications and in Perishables Handling Newsletter, which he co-founded in 1962 and co-edited with Gordon Mitchell until 1987. This quarterly publication is still published by the UC Postharvest Technology Research and Information Center for the benefit of the produce industry and the general public. Throughout his career, Bob organized and conducted hundreds of workshops, seminars, and short-courses in all the vegetable production areas of California and at destinations of California fresh produce. He was a key team member in establishing the annual UC two-week short-course on Postharvest Technology of Horticulture crops in 1979 and was an instructor in this course until 1989. He co-authored the course textbook published in 1985 by UC DANR Publications and revised in 1992; more than 10,000 copies have been sold worldwide. He consulted with industry personnel on specific challenges and helped them identify the best approach to overcome these challenges. His outstanding service covered not only California but most destinations nationally and internationally. The produce industry's appreciation of Bob's dedication to excellence in his program was recognized by the Packer newspaper as the Produce Man of the Year in 1980. He was selected among 100 persons who made a difference during a century of produce, 1983-1993, published by Vance Publishing Company. In 1987 he was awarded Lifetime Membership in the Produce Marketing Association. Following his retirement, Bob continued to work with the produce industry within and outside the U.S. He served as International Executive Service Corps Volunteer Executive from 1988 till 1998 and received an award as an outstanding IESC Volunteer Executive for his educational programs in several developing countries. At UC Davis, Bob was an active and effective member of the Department of Vegetable Crops and the interdepartmental Postharvest Outreach Program (currently known as the UC Postharvest Technology Research and Information Center). Also he was involved in supporting student activities and related campus programs. He is missed by his family, friends and others who have been touched by his many contributions. Knowing Bob, he is probably working on ways to provide advice on proper temperature management for horticultural perishables from the Great Extension Service of the Sky.
Remembrances for Bob Kasmire can be made as donations to the UC Postharvest Program Endowment (checks made to UC Regents and sent to Adel Kader, Department of Pomology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616). This will help to assure the continuation of the world-class educational programs that were initiated by him and his colleagues.
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