A month before the first Earth Day was celebrated 50 years ago, a young science professor named Earl Rosenwinkel went on TV to say the environment is "no longer merely a matter of aesthetics but a matter of survival and a matter of quality of life."
"I wonder what we can do to educate people," he said.
Through science and spirituality, he spent the rest of his life in that pursuit.
Rosenwinkel died April 7 in Duluth at age 84. He was the second person in the area to die of COVID-19.
Remembered for his curiosity and passion for his work, Rosenwinkel was awarded a doctorate in plant ecology from Rutgers University in 1964 and was for many years a college professor and studied the ecology of Isle Royale National Park. In 1989 he earned a master of divinity from what is now Luther Seminary and was an assisting pastor at St. Columba's Episcopal Church on the White Earth Reservation, according to his obituary.
When he moved to Duluth he became ecological data manager at Hartley Nature Center, building maps and databases for the sprawling preserve.
"You could talk with Earl about birds, insects, fungi, wildflowers, trees, mammals, etc., and he was knowledgeable about all of it, plants especially," said Bill Maier, a former director of Hartley.
Maier recalled one night the two of them led a hike through the park to inventory frogs. As they made their way through the wetlands, the kids they were with lit up with excitement and "we kind of forgot about recording any data and just enjoyed the experience."
