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MISSOULA - The University of Montana's College of Forestry lost its second professor this semester over the weekend.

The college tells us its assistant professor of watershed science Scott Woods, 45, died Saturday of complications associated with his lung cancer, which he was diagnosed with in 2008.

In late January, range resource management professor Don Bedunah, 59, died from sudden heart failure.

"To have these two remarkable people who are, not just scientists, but teachers and leaders in our college, to lose ‘em both is very hard for us," UM College of Forestry and Conservation dean James Burchfield said.

Already this week the school's other soil scientist began teaching Woods' soils class while forestry and geosciences professors volunteered to take on his graduate students.

"Across the campus there's a sense of pulling together when a tragedy like this strikes," Burchfield said. "It makes me very proud to work here."

Burchfield speaks of Woods as "a remarkable warrior" throughout his diagnosis who kept his students at the forefront of his work.

"Scott was someone deeply dedicated to his students. He was a wonderful, a great scientist and someone who really believed in bringing knowledge to the next generation of conservation leaders and he's gonna be deeply missed."

The school established two memorial scholarships in Bedunah and Woods' names.

You can contact The University of Montana College of Forestry and Conservation to share your memories or to help with the funds.