The Passing of Alan Klass

On Monday, Feb. 12, Alan Klass, a long-time Aurovilian who worked in the Matrimandir Gardens and was responsible for building the magnificent orchid collection, passed away at his home in Crestone, Colorado.

Alan's love of orchids was unparalleled. He devoted many hours a day to their study and cultivation, learned the techniques of transplanting them from flasks, fertilization and cultivation and studied their individual requirements meticulously. The orchid displays in February, especially during the Flower Show on Mother's Birthday February 21, we spectacular.

Alan was also an excellent guitarist and with no formal training learned much of the classical repertory. "Though we were awakened with guitar music every morning at 5:00, we appreciated the discipline and devotion to practice."

Personally, Skye who lives in Colorado, and her children knew Alan best, probably followed by those of us who worked with him for many years in the Matrimandir Gardens Nursery in the early days of Auroville. Few Aurovilians may know, however, that it was Alan's generosity that funded virtually all of the plant collecting trips undertaken by the workers at the Matrimandir Gardens, enabling us to build one of the major plant collections in southern India.

Narad