Linda Mary Reeves

Linda Mary Reeves was born to Charles and Julia Garbarini on June 6th 1948 in Jersey City, Bergen, New Jersey.

Linda is Dr. Timothy Reeves' treasured wife and companion of over 42 years. Linda Reeves accomplished many things starting with attending the University of Miami, Florida, (BS Biology, MA Botany), and Arizona State University (Ph. D. coursework) where she met her husband, Timothy Reeves. She was a much loved college teacher (biology/botany/art) and mentor at Scottsdale CC, Glendale CC, Mesa CC, New York Botanical Garden (Director of Children’s Education).

From there Linda Reeves went on to Boston University [managed university greenhouse, directed the Martian Student Internship Program and illustrated portions of a book on Five Kingdoms of Living Organisms].

After making her mark in Boston she moved on to the University of Minnesota-Morris where she taught biology and designed and managed the College Greenhouse.

She influenced many other colleges in her time including Dine College where she taught biology and was Science Department Chairwoman. She also played many roles at our local San Juan College including teaching biology, plant room director, co-editor and illustrator of Four Corners Flora.

Along with her contributions teaching at colleges across the nation she was a gifted artist/scientific illustrator with many books and scientific journals, Linda Reeves contributed to scientific research (orchid pollination in AZ, MN, and UT), her knowledge of orchids provided her the title as President of Arizona Orchid Society. In addition she was the author or co-author of multiple books and scientific articles.

Some of her hobbies included being a cat mom, devoted loving wife, avid science fiction reader, fan of Native American mystery books, Star Trek Trekkie, and avid proponent of all-things-Martian. She was an intrepid traveler with such ventures as boating the length of the Amazon, hiking the Grand Canyon, hiking the Superstition Mountains, and cruising Alaska’s Inner Passage. Linda studied Orchids in North, Central, and South America, surveyed vegetation in Okinawa, Japan, and led Whale Watching boat trips to Baja California.

She taught many who became biologists and medical personnel, and enriched the lives of everyone fortunate enough to meet her. She was a member of the Four Corners Bird Club, New Mexico Ornithological Society, Audubon Society, Nature Conservancy, Sierra Club, Defenders of Wildlife, Humane Society, Habitat for Humanity, the Democratic Party and many charitable organizations. She was a remarkable woman living a remarkable life.

Linda Reeves is preceded in death by her parents Charles Phillip Garbarini, Julia Werner Garbarini. She is survived by her husband Dr. Timothy Reeves, Ph. D.; and her sisters Maria Garbarini Wheeler (Pat) and Carla Garbarini Cozzi (Bill)

Inurnment will take place at the Reeves family plot at Sparta Cemetery, Sparta, NC.