A former University professor emeritus died Thursday at the Wilder Center in St. Paul. Ernst Abbe was 95.
Abbe came to the University in 1935 as a botany instructor and went on to chair the department for eight years.
He played an important role in moving the botany department to the new Biological Sciences Center in 1973.
Abbe served as president of the Minnesota chapter of Sigma Xi research society and served as vice president of the Minnesota Academy of Science.
Abbe and his wife, Lucy, were recognized for their contributions for 30 years to the Minnesota Academy of Science.
Abbe retired from the University in 1974.
He received a bachelor of science degree in 1928 and a master of science degree in 1930 in botany from Cornell University in New York.
Abbe is survived by two sons, Robert and David Abbe, six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

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