Brooklyn's Progress
October/November 2007

BY KHADIJA BATUTA

Judith Daria Zuk, president emeritus of Brooklyn Botanic Garden, passed away after a long battle with breast cancer on Sept. 1, at the age of 55.

The horticulturalist and educator was the fifth president in the Botanic Garden’s nearly 100-year history.  During her 15-year tenure she worked diligently to fulfill her vision to build the garden up from within as well as out into the surrounding community.

Ms. Zuk raised funds for and oversaw the Garden through several major development projects, including the Children’s Garden, the Japanese hill-and-pond garden, and the Cranford rose garden.

She expanded the Botanic Garden’s horticultural, scientific and education programs to Brooklyn’s neighborhoods through several initiatives such as Brooklyn GreenBridge, which holds the annual “Greenest Block in Brooklyn” contest.  Ms. Zuk also was instrumental in connecting the Botanic Garden and Brooklyn’s other cultural institutions near Grand Army Plaza – Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn Children’s Museum, Brooklyn Public Library Central Library, Prospect Park, and Prospect Park Zoo – to a free shuttle “trolley” service.

On June 26, Ms. Zuk saw another one of her dreams fulfilled when the first class graduated from the public high school she helped found in conjunction with the Department of Education and Prospect Park Alliance.  The Brooklyn Academy of Science and the Environment (BASE), which opened its doors to 125 ninth-grade students at its Prospect Heights Academy building in September 2003, offers an environmental-focused curriculum that includes fieldwork at the Botanic Garden and Prospect Park. 

“Bringing the garden out of the garden was probably her most significant gift,” said Tupper Thomas, administrator of Prospect Park and president of the Prospect Park Alliance.

Born in Canandaigua, New York, in 1951, Ms. Zuk graduated with a summa cum laude degree in botany from Rutgers University, after which she earned a master’s degree in public garden administration from the University of Delaware. 

Prior to joining the Botanic Garden in 1990, Ms. Zuk served as director of the Scott Arboretum of Swarthmore College, Pennsylvania.  She co-edited “The American Horticultural Society A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants,” and served on the boards of several professional and cultural organizations.  An active Member of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, Ms. Zuk served for a number of years as a director on its board.  On several occasions she also graciously hosted the Chamber’s Annual Membership Meeting in the Botanic Garden’s beautiful Palm House.

Widely recognized for her leadership in American horticulture, she received numerous local and national awards throughout her career, including the Medal of Honor from the Garden Club of America and the Honorary Life Member Award from the American Public Gardens Association, where she had served as board president.  At BrooklynBest 2005, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz presided over the ceremony in which Ms. Zuk was inducted into the famed celebrity path at Brooklyn Botanic Garden.  After her retirement that same year, the Botanic Garden further celebrated Ms. Zuk’s accomplishments by renaming the magnolia plaza that she helped to re-develop, the Judith D. Zuk Magnolia Plaza.

"Her death represents an enormous personal loss to all of us who loved and admired her, as well as to the worldwide horticultural community. I am consoled by the knowledge that her extraordinary contributions to the Garden will be enjoyed by visitors for many years to come," said Earl Weiner, chairman, Brooklyn Botanic Garden.

Ms. Zuk is survived by her sister, Patricia Campbell, of North Carolina, and nephew Ian. A celebration of her life was held on Sept. 23 at Brooklyn Botanic Garden.

The Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, on behalf of its Board, staff and Members, wishes to express its deepest sympathy to Ms. Zuk’s family, friends and colleagues.