William August "Bill" Jensen, dean of the (former) College of Biological Sciences, 1984-89, and molecular genetics professor emeritus, died September 9, 2014; he was 87.

Jensen received his PhD in 1953 from the University of Chicago. He did postdoctoral work at the California Institute of Technology and in Brussels, Belgium, before receiving tenure track positions—first at the University of Virginia—then at the University of California, Berkeley, where he spent 27 years.

His research on cell differentiation associated with plant embryos and embryo sac development led him to combine the then-pioneering techniques of histochemistry and electron microscopy. He wrote the still popular book, Botanical Histochemistryin 1962, and published more than 100 articles in a variety of scientific journals.

He chaired Berkeley’s Departments of Botany and Instruction in Biology, and was assistant and associate dean of the College of Letters and Science. He spent 1973-74 as program director of Developmental Biology at the National Science Foundation.

Jensen came to Ohio State in 1984 to become dean of the College of Biological Sciences (1984-1989) and professor of plant biology. He retired in 2009, was awarded professor emeritus status in the Department of Molecular Genetics, and continued to teach.

Teaching and mentoring the next generation of scientists and igniting a love and appreciation for the sciences among non-science majors were his passions. His ability to engage and enchant large general biology classes was legendary.

At Ohio State, his classes for non-science majors were enormously popular. His flamboyant portrayals of famous scientists and his multimedia presentations, along with his easy-to-understand entry-level texts, made botany and biology accessible and fun.

Jensen received several teaching awards; from the University of California, Ohio State and the Botanical Society of America’s Charles E. Bessey Award.

He was a member of the American Institute of Biological Sciences, and the Botanical Society of America (BSA); he received BSA’s Merit Award (Distinguished Fellow) and served as its president in 1978. He was an elected Fellow of AAAS and the California Academy of Sciences.

Jensen was a man of eclectic interests and had an exceptional talent for creating stunning, color pen drawings of images he had studied with his electron microscope, many of which he donated to his department.

Jensen will be remembered for his enthusiasm, curiosity, generous spirit, passion for teaching and an unforgettably infectious laugh.

He is survived by wife, Beverly; son, Scott; daughter, Christina; four stepdaughters, Kathy, Ann, Karen and Mary Beth; their spouses and partners; and several grandchildren and great grandchildren. His memorial service was September 14. Those wishing to make a donation in his memory, may contribute to the Biological Sciences Greenhouse, Fund #640470; www.giveto.osu.edu or to the Botanical Society of America Endowment Fund.

—Sandi Rutkowski