In loving memory of Dawn Schrader. Dawn passed away January 6th, 2026. She was a beloved mother to her two daughters, Katherine and Lauren, sister, friend, and teacher. We would love to honor Dawn with a memorial bench at the Cornell Botanic Gardens - a place that meant the world to her and her family - as a gathering place and standing memorial to her beautiful soul and legacy.

As a professor at Cornell, Dawn was an outstanding teacher and dedicated student advisor who was immensely kind and supportive of her colleagues and students. Since 1988, Dawn served on the faculty and contributed greatly to the Cornell community. Dawn also brought her two daughters every morning to the Cornell Botanic Gardens, where they shared special moments sitting in the park, playing, feeding ducks, and admiring the water lilies.

As her daughters, we envision this bench as a place to visit our mother and provide a welcoming space where her students, friends, and all who loved her can honor and celebrate her memory. It is our hope that Dawn’s presence will continue to be felt there, and that her legacy of warmth, generosity, and care will live on for generations to come.

We will be pledging to the Cornell Botanic Gardens to dedicate a bench in Dawn’s memory. If you wish to honor her, contributions of any amount in lieu of flowers or gifts would be greatly appreciated.