University Times

Four more trees were recently added to the campus landscape by families wishing to honor deceased relatives with Pitt or Oakland connections.

A cluster of three dogwood trees was dedicated in memory of Harry Anthony III, former director of research at Mellon Institute, on the Forbes Avenue side of Heinz Memorial Chapel on Oct. 24.

Today, Nov. 7, at 2:30 p.m., a large Japanese scholar tree, also known as a pagoda tree, will be dedicated on the Bellefield Avenue side of the Cathedral of Learning in memory of Mary E. Connor, former assistant to the director of Pitt's Center for the Philosophy of Science.

Connor, 61, died on April 15 after a 16-month battle with esophageal cancer. Planting of the tree was made possible through a donation from Connor's husband, Earl.

During her life, Connor had three great passions, according to those who knew her: her family, her work and politics. As administrative assistant to Allegheny County Commission William McClelland from 1960 to 1967, she played an instrumental role in the creation of the Community College of Allegheny County, Three Rivers Stadium and the Port Authority Transit system.

Connor joined Pitt in 1985 as secretary to the late Wilfrid Sellars, then University Professor of Philosophy. Sellars once said that Connor "was to secretaries what Napoleon was to generals." Anthony, who died in 1987 at age 79, did not have any ties to Pitt, but was the long-time director of research at Mellon Institute. Since the Pitt campus is the nearest green space to Mellon Institute, Anderson's son, Harry IV, a resident of Texas, contacted the Office of Facilities Management about the possibility of planting a tree on campus in memory of his father.

"They wanted to be close to the Institute and the chapel was as close as I could get them," said Karen Whitehead, a staff member in the Office of Institutional Advancement who works with tree donors.

The entrance to Heinz Chapel also was selected as the site for the donation because there is a dogwood tree on the opposite side behind the temporary disabled access ramp. The new trees will balance out the landscaping of the chapel.

Since the University is always losing trees, and always will, Facilities Management about a year ago began promoting the planting, by groups or individuals, of dedicated trees. Within the past year, seven dedicated trees have been planted on campus.

"Pretty much anyone can dedicate a tree, but we're mainly offering it to the University community," said Ed Gruber, senior grounds manager in the Office of Facilities Management. "With budgets being tight, it can become a living memorial." According to Gruber, it costs about $1,000 to purchase and plant a tree with a 4-inch trunk, and erect a memorial plaque under it. Pitt has almost 600 trees on the lower campus and 200-300 at other locations.

–Mike Sajna