Norman Childers Passes Away At 100
April 26, 2011 
Childers spent several years as a researcher and professor at Rutgers University before retiring in 1981. But his career in the fruit industry didn’t end there; he spent almost 30 years as an adjunct professor of fruit crops at the University of Florida. Author of many books, including Modern Fruit Science, Childers was an active member of the American Society for Horticultural Science.
As Dan Cantliffe of the University of Florida notes, “Norm was a king among horticulturists, someone who loved students and loved teaching. He is well known around the world through the books he wrote and his expertise in fruit crops. Norm taught various courses in fruit crops at the University of Florida starting in 1981 after retiring from Rutgers University. He started our “Fruits for Fun and Profit” course which hasĀ more thanĀ 400 students every time it is taught. He taught his last course when he was 92 and finished his last book when he was 95. He will be deeply missed.”
Childers’ funeral was held April 29 at the William Thomas Funeral Home in Gainesville.
Feel free to share any of your memories of Childers, as well as condolonces, in the comment box below.
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