by Yusuf N. Tamimi, PhD, Emeritus Professor of CTAHR
Dr. Samir Ali El Swaify was a retired Emeritus Professor of Soil Sciences in the Dept. of Natural Resources and Environmental Management in the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. He devoted his life to research and teaching both graduate and undergraduate students.
In addition to his excellence in developing and teaching of graduate and undergraduate courses, he also played a leading role as an administrator. He was innovative with creativity in developing new curriculum in the Dept. of Agronomy and Soil Sciences. During his tenure as chair of the department and with his outstanding accomplishments and those of members of the faculty and graduate students, the department was considered to be an international leader in the field of tropical soil science. He was instrumental in founding NREM in 2000 and served as its first chair.
Moreover, the joint research and publications of Dr. El Swaify and his colleagues and graduate students in the fields of soil physical chemistry and soil conservation contributed significantly to our basic knowledge in these disciplines and is helping the world’s food production by improving soil management practices for more efficient fertilizer use, and by reducing soil erosion and reducing pollution of the environment.
Dr. El Swaify was very humble, compassionate, and a very prompt and helpful person. He also was active in his community by joining and contributing to civic activities. He will be sorely missed by his family, his colleagues, and his friends.
A celebration of life and legacy will be held July 14 at Borthwick Chapel, Honolulu. The Livestream will commence at 3:30 p.m.