Gene Vivian

etirement hasn’t slowed down V. Eugene Vivian. Years after starting the first environmental studies program in the region, Vivian is still educating people about the environment.

Following his retirement from the biology department in 1984, Vivian started a consulting firm called Associates for Conservation and Environmental Studies. The firm educates students and companies about environmental planning and conservation.

As a consultant for the Manahawkin Environmental Commission, Vivian sparked the interest of a group of students from Southern Regional High School to protect two rare plant species in the Pinelands. They removed shrubs and small trees that were blocking light to the curly grass fern and the bos asphodel, a lily with yellow flowers that is on the federal endangered species list.

Vivian helped the students get permits, prepare solar maps to determine how many and which trees to take out and analyze water samples every week for 10 weeks. For their work the students received the President’s Youth Environmental Award from the US Environmental Protection Agency.

This year Vivian is finally retiring and closing his consulting firm. “I’ll be 85 this year and it’s enough,” he said. “I’ll visit with family and friends, and just travel.”

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