ABC Mourns Death of Cascade Anderson Geller

AUSTIN, Tex.American herbalist, educator and environmental activist Cascade Anderson Geller passed away at the age of 59 on HerbDay, May 4, following a few-month illness.

Since the early 1970s, Geller worked as a full-time herbalist, teacher, mother, wife, medicine maker, eco-tour leader and citizen-earth activist. She was a founding member of Everett House Healing Center in Portland and an associate professor and department chair of Botanical Medicine at the National College of Naturopathic (now Natural) Medicine.

She also served on the faculty of Bastyr University, Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine and the California School of Herbal Studies. She was on the United Plant Savers advisory board and founded two food co-ops, an herb store and four political and social activism groups.

Cascades passing is like a huge hole being torn in the fabric of the American herbalist community," said Mark Blumenthal, founder and executive director of American Botanical Council. "I dont know how it can ever be repaired."

Geller's herbal roots is traced back to Southern Appalachia, where she picked herbs and wild foods. Her teachers and mentors included Ella Birzneck, Norma Meyers, Juliette de Baïracli Levy, Bernard Jensen, Rosita Arvigo and Rocio Alarcon.

"The large herbal social networking community has been flooded for the past few days with posts of loss, memories, gratitude and loving tribute to a contemporary American herbal legend," said Rosemary Gladstar, long-time friend and fellow herbalist.

The ABC-AHP-NCNPR Botanical Adulterants Program, founded in 2011, reported in March that it now has more than 100 underwriters and endorsers, including leading botanical dietary ingredient suppliers, law firms, professional associations and analytical labs.