Dr. Tom van der Zwet was born on April, 7th 1932 in Balikpapan, Borneo, in the former Dutch colony of the Dutch East Indies, known today as Indonesia. He passed away from natural causes at the age of 89 in Houston, TX.

Tom lived an interesting life, more interesting than most. Tom wrote a three-volume memoir detailing the events of his life, some of which we have chosen to share below.

It all started in 1932 when Tom was born on the island of Borneo. He lived there with his parents from 1932 until 1940 while his father worked as a chemist for the Royal Dutch Shell Oil Company. In March of 1940, Tom departed the Dutch East Indies with his parents as the Empire of Japan began to forcibly occupy more of the surrounding Asian countries throughout the Pacific. Riding aboard the last ship from Balikpapan to pass through the Suez-canal, the family entered the Mediterranean Sea with war-torn Europe as their destination. Forced to land in Italy due to the war, Tom and his parents traveled by train to the Netherlands to search for additional work. Ten days after arriving, the Netherlands was occupied by the German Third Reich. Living near author and resistance leader Corrie ten Boom, he spent the next several years struggling to survive the war while suffering through mass starvation. During this time, the family had little to no food and consumed only tulip bulbs for what little nutrients could be gained. He would emotionally recount in detail the day in 1944 when the family was listening to a radio (which was illegal to possess) as allied forces landed in Normandy; with the thought of liberation, the hope of life was restored. Once the Netherlands was freed by the allied forces in 1944, Tom returned to school and eventually received his B.S. degree from the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture in Deventer in 1952. He began to continue his travel of the world working in Costa Rica, and then migrating to the United States. His travels led him to Louisiana where he attended the renowned institution known as Louisiana State University (LSU). He studied plant pathology and received his M.S. in 1957 and his PhD. in 1959. It was at LSU where he met his first wife Betty and started his family.

In 1959 Dr. van der Zwet, now a naturalized citizen, started his career with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) at the Tung Research Laboratory in Bogalusa, LA. During the next six years, he studied epidemiology and the control of specific tree diseases. In 1965, he moved to Beltsville, MD to start his illustrious career focusing on the prevention and containment of the disease known as Fire Blight which ravages both the apple and pear fruit tree alike. During this time he earned numerous awards for his research and was sought after around the world for his expertise in fighting this disease. During the summers of 1976, 1978, and 1980, Tom traveled in all the countries between the Baltic, Black, and Adriatic Seas crossing into and out of the communist iron curtain in search of methods to fight the disastrous Fire Blight. He wrote numerous books on the topic, many of which are used today to combat the spread of the disease. If you're wondering why, you never heard of Fire Blight, it is because Tom spent his life preventing its spread; he single-handedly eradicated the disease from the country of Australia. It is indeed interesting to note that in Europe he was affectionately referred to as the "Fire Blight Pope", whereas in North America he had been called the "Fire Blight Czar". All in all, however, the term "Mister Fire Blight" was applied most often.

In 1979 Tom moved to Middleway, WV with his second wife Mary. It was there where he retired and brought to a close his 40-year career as a public servant for the USDA. Together Tom and Mary lived the rest of their lives on the edge of the Shenandoah Valley. He spent his later years tending to his garden, visiting his family, and traveling the world. He visited all of the National Parks in the United States, taking time to fully appreciate this beautiful country that saved him and his family from the evils of tyranny. He lived a full life, was a proud American, inspired many, feared God, and loved his family deeply. He will be missed.

Tom is survived by his brother, Max (Els) van der Zwet. His children, Thomas (Vicki Spivey) van der Zwet, Robert (Maria) van der Zwet, Cheryl van der Zwet, Ronnie (Cathy) Sasscer. His grandchildren Bonnie (Bill) Terrell, Lisa (Brad) Murphy, Shawn, and Danny McGinniss, Rosemary (Gene) Briggs, Tara (John) Reynolds, Joseph Flores, Jon Michael (Claire Parisi) van der Zwet, Robbie van der Zwet, Steven van der Zwet, Victoria (Will) Fuller, Jonathan Flores; Sarah, Jessica, William, and John Sasscer; and 15 great-grandchildren. Nieces and nephews Mathijs (Mariette) van der Zwet, Caroline (Ed) van der Heuvel, Bram (Kitty) van der Zwet, Claasje van der Zwet, Oele de Visser and family; as well as numerous friends and family members.

Services are to be held at a later date both here in Houston, Texas and in Middleway, West Virginia.