The Daniel E. Stuntz and Patrice G. Benson Endowed Mycology Fund supports the University of Washington Fungal Herbarium, housed at the Burke Museum. The endowment was the dream of the late Patrice Benson, who established the fund in 2007. The endowment currently provides thousands of dollars per year to preserve, document and archive fungal specimens. As of 2023, the Endowment has grown to just over $700,000, bringing us closer to our goal of having a designated fungal collections manager who will be employed by the Burke Museum.
To donate to the herbarium endowment: https://www.washington.edu/giving/make-a-gift
Search for “Stuntz,”or the“Daniel E. Stuntz and Patrice G. Benson Endowed Mycology Fund”
Patrice Gales Benson 1953-2012
Patrice was a mainstay of Puget Sound Mycological Society (PSMS) since 1976, She had an unrelenting interest in fungi hunting, identification, and culinary enjoyment.
Over the years, she served in almost every position possible in the society—class instructor, mycophagy chair, publicity chair, education chair, trustee, vice president, and president (twice). She was a mushroom missionary extraordinaire, spreading mushroom knowledge to the outside world through classes, lectures, slide shows, and hands-on projects geared to both adults and children. She was PSMS representative to the North American Mushroom Association.
Patrice served as president of the Daniel E. Stuntz Memorial Foundation for many years and by her leadership the endowment for the fungal herbarium housed at the Burke Museum of Natural History was established. This endowed fund now carries her name along with Dr. Stuntz.
Although most of us will remember Patrice for her enthusiasm about mushrooms and cooking, she was also devoted to many non-mushroom activities. Of Polish descent, she was an active participant in Seattle’s Polish-American community. A career hematologist, in 2005 she founded BenTech Biotechnology Services, a major provider of human blood cells for medical research in /Seattle. She was the 26th member of the Seattle chapter of Les Dames D’Escoffier, a national organization of chefs, restaurateurs, and other promoters of fine food. She was an expert gardener, Girl Scout leader, and dependable volunteer for many jobs in support of her family and community.
(edited from the 2012 Puget Sound Mycological Society newsletter, by Agnes Sieger)
