Kenneth Thimann; Botanist on Founding Faculty of UC Santa Cruz

Kenneth Thimann, 92, a respected botanist who was on the founding faculty of UC Santa Cruz. A pioneering researcher in plant physiology, Thimann earned recognition for his research into the biosynthesis of pigments that cause the colors of flowers and fruits. In 1982, he received the prestigious Balzan Prize, an award given in scientific areas ineligible for the Nobel Prize. Among his several books were “Phytohormones” in 1937, “The Life of Bacteria” in 1955 and “Hormone Action in the Whole Life of Plants” in 1977. Born in Ashford, England, Thimann earned his degrees from the University of London and the University of Graz in Austria. He immigrated in 1930 to teach at Caltech. He later taught at Harvard University for 30 years. In 1965, Thimann moved west as founding professor of biology and the first provost of Crown College at UC Santa Cruz. At the time of his death, he was doing research in connection with the University of Pennsylvania. On Wednesday in Haverford, Pa.