Fr. Gunther Rolfson, OSB

Father Gunther Rolfson, OSB, is a past curator of the St. John's Herbarium.  He occupied this position in the late 1960's after returning from his graduate studies in botany at the University of Oregon.  Upon his return, Father Gunther then began a botanical legacy that continues to influence our communities.  For example, in 1966 Fr. Gunther and his students began to work in the the newly constructed Greenhouse and he established a 25 acre botanical reserve just east of East Gemini Lake in the area that is now part of the savanna restoration project.   Many of his plants can still be found growing along this hillside.  Not only was he a popular professor in the Biology department, but Fr. Gunther also served as registrar, director of admissions, founder and director of the counseling center, vice president for academic affairs, President of the University, chaplain of St. Benedict's Monastery and pastor of St. Catherine's Church (Farming, MN).