Richard Kent Schoellhorn (Rick) passed away at age 66 after a two-year struggle with lung cancer. He as born Oct. 17, 1957, in Whittier, California. His rural southern California childhood, much of it spent adventuring among the lush avocado and citrus groves, formed a foundation for his lifelong love of plants. Family lore feature the story of Rick, as a young teen, caught stealing plants by hiding them in his bellbottom pants. Instead of being arrested, he was hired to help in the garden center.
Rick attended Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (1975) but left to join his sister Janine in Alaska, an experience that broadened his perspective on life and personal identity. He moved to Denver, Colorado (1979) to be with his brother Carlos, bringing with him a newfound love of guitar and songwriting. He held a variety of nursery and landscaping jobs, including owning his own interior plantscaping company. It was during his time in Denver that Rick met his wife Linda and decided to continue his education to fulfill a lifelong desire to teach and provide for a future family.
Rick completed a B.S. in horticulture at Colorado State University in 1989, then, after the birth of his son Eran, moved to Gainesville, Florida, to pursue graduate study. In 1995, he completed a PhD in horticulture at UF, first at the Research & Education Center in Milton, then the main campus in Gainesville in 2001. He was a well-known speaker, garden consultant, television host and community volunteer.
In 2005, he left academia to join Proven Winners as the director of new products. His work with Proven Winners was incredibly rewarding, and afforded Rick the opportunity to do what he truly loved – share his love of horticulture with professional colleagues, plant breeders and growers across the world.
Proven Winners has renamed its grower scholarship in Rick’s honor as The Rick Schoellhorn – Proven Winners® Grower Excellence Scholarship. “It’s perfect because it honors Rick both as a plantsman and as an educator,” says Kevin Hurd, Proven Winners director of new products. “He has a passion for growing and he’s worked in all aspects of the industry. So we felt it was important to memorialize him and remember his legacy as that educator and strong horticulturalist.”
Post-retirement, he focused on cultivating begonias. He and Linda traveled extensively, meeting and interviewing begonia breeders while Rick worked on a manuscript for a book on the history of begonia cultivation. He was active in the American Begonia Society.
Rick’s passion and curiosity guided not only his professional life, but his vibrant home and social life. The gardens he created at his family home were a popular destination for garden tours and the setting for the many parties and social gatherings he and Linda hosted.
Rick was a prolific songwriter, guitarist and pianist. Music captivated him, and his own songs, particularly those he published in his album, “Under A Midnight Sky,” are a source of inspiration
for all his family. Love of music was an enduring theme of Rick’s family life, and a bond he shared with his son Eran.
Rick is survived by his wife of 39 years, Linda, son Eran, brother Carlos, sister Janine, granddaughters Lydia and Cora, and a community of extended family, friends and colleagues.