The Natural Thing To Do
Museum Named To Honor Esteemed Biology Professor
By: Eamon Scarbrough, Portales News Tribune
Photo by Larry Brock
Friends and loved ones of a prolific ENMU professor gathered in October at the ENMU Roosevelt Science Center to honor his memory and see a building dedicated in his name. ENMU’s Natural History Museum was re-named the “Dr. Anthony ‘Tony’ Gennaro Natural History Museum” in honor of Gennaro, who died in August of 2015. “Tony meant so much to the institution—he was here 32 years— that we thought the renaming of this museum was—this is the closest I’ll get to a pun all day—the natural thing to do,” said ENMU President Steven Gamble at the dedication. Gamble said Gennaro was an invaluable asset to ENMU, in part due to his outreach on behalf of the University.
Photos courtesy of ENMU Special Collections
Photo courtesy of Marjorie Gennaro
“As a university, when we look at the outreach for the institution—by that I’m talking about people that can really take our message out to the community—probably in the top five, top maybe ever that I’m aware of, Tony would rank at the top of that,” he said. “I mean, he did his own television show; he did articles in the newspaper; he was consulted as an expert when something in natural science would come up.” Two of Gennaro’s former colleagues, ENMU Department of Physical Sciences Chair Jim Constantopoulos and Department of Biology Chair Kenwyn Cradock, also spoke on the profound impact he made on them. “As the director of the Miles Mineral Museum, Tony and I worked and fought hard
Dr. Tony Gennaro’s wife, Marjorie attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony to inaugurate the museum’s new name and honor her husband’s lasting legacy.
together to make these museums what they are today. He taught me to appreciate the importance of the museums, not only for ENMU, but for Portales and New Mexico,” Constantopoulos said. “Our friendship went beyond our love of the natural world and the day-to-day interactions we had in this building. Here’s a little-known fact: Tony was Italian, and sometimes he would play Italian music; and he made me feel proud of my Greek heritage.” Cradock recalled Gennaro’s ability to spark an interest of the natural world in other people. “Tony’s passion was engaging people with nature. In particular, students,” said Cradock. “He actively engaged students in all levels with setting up the museum, maintaining it, and that continues to this day.” After a ribbon-cutting ceremony to inaugurate the museum’s new title, Gennaro’s wife Marjorie (MBA 79, BBA 73) observed a lasting legacy that he established at Eastern. “With God’s blessings, I’m certain Tony’s watching over us. I think I can almost hear him saying, ‘Marjorie, my work at Eastern is complete, and my love for my students, enduring,’” she said. “I thank you so much for honoring Tony, and the many, many students that helped to create the Dr. Antonio Gennaro Natural History Museum. And let me tell you what: Tony thanks you too.” Gennaro designed and opened the Natural History Museum’s educational exhibit in 1967, helped launch the Wildlife and Fisheries program and started the University’s wildlife club. He retired in 1998 as a distinguished emeritus professor of biology. Top left: Dr. Anthony “Tony” Gennaro and his wife, Marjorie. Bottom photos: Dr. Tony Gennaro taught biology at Eastern from 1966-98.
Green & Silver | February 2017
13
