A winding path through spring in the UC Davis Arboretum's Mary Wattis Brown Garden with blooming flowers, a bench and trees under a cloudy sky.

Faculty Legacy Helps Campus Environment Thrive

Estate gift from Dr. Sarkis and Irene Zeronian supports Arboretum and Public Garden improvements

Thu, March 19, 2026

The UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden is honored to announce a generous estate gift from longtime supporters Dr. Sarkis H. Zeronian and Mrs. Irene B. Zeronian, whose dedication to the Arboretum community spanned many years.

Black and white portrait of Dr. Sarkis Zeronian in a suit with glasses, looking directly at the camera. — Dr. Sarkis “Haig” Zeronian was a professor emeritus at UC Davis and an internationally respected fiber and polymer scientist whose career spanned more than two decades on campus.*

Their generous bequest, received in late 2025 following the passing of Dr. Zeronian, establishes the Dr. Sarkis H. Zeronian and Mrs. Irene B. Zeronian Arboretum Improvements Fund. This new current-use fund will support improvements across the Arboretum and Public Garden, helping care for the landscapes and experiences that connect people with nature on the UC Davis campus.

For many years, the Zeronians were loyal members of the Friends of the UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden, contributing annually to the Friends Annual Appeal and supporting the gardens they cherished.

“We are deeply grateful to Dr. and Mrs. Zeronian for their lasting generosity,” said Carmia Feldman, director of the UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden. “Their gift will help us continue caring for and improving the Arboretum for the students, researchers, and community members who learn from and find inspiration in these landscapes every day.”

Dr. Sarkis “Haig” Zeronian was a professor emeritus at UC Davis and an internationally respected fiber and polymer scientist whose career spanned more than two decades on campus. A dedicated teacher, mentor, and former chair of the Division of Textiles and Clothing, he was known by colleagues and students alike as a “gentleman scholar”—combining scientific rigor with generosity, humility, and deep care for those around him.

Over the course of his career, he authored more than 120 scientific papers and several textbooks, and received numerous honors for his research, including the Olney Medal in 2014 for outstanding contributions to cellulose chemistry.

Together, Sarkis and Irene Zeronian shared a commitment to supporting education, culture, and community. Their philanthropy extended to UC Davis Health, the Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts, and numerous other community organizations. Friends and colleagues remember their generosity not only in what they gave, but in how they engaged with warmth and care for the people and places around them.

Through their estate gift, the Zeronians’ commitment to UC Davis will continue to support the care and ongoing improvement of the Arboretum and Public Garden.

Learn more about giving

Gifts from supporters help the UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden care for its landscapes, expand student learning opportunities, and create welcoming places for the community.

To learn more about ways to support the Arboretum and Public Garden—including estate gifts—contact Christen Brunner, assistant director of development, at [email protected].

*We could not locate an image of Irene Zeronian. If you happen to have one, and are willing to share it for this purpose, please reach out at [email protected]. Thank you!