tense question

[curious]

For the past two decades Dr. Lynn Hertel, to the memory of whom a fund was created, ---- an instrumental role in maintaining the department’s research efforts in parasitology and comparative immunology.

A) has played
B) is playing
D) will have played
D) played
E) will be playing

[forum_mail]

hmm... I guess that only two options are possible here... (unless the guy is dead)

has been playing - because he's probably still an important figure and still has a lot to say/do

has played - quite similiar... however I think that p.p.c. suits better here,

correct me if I'm wrong

see ya,

[ana2005]

I do think the guy is dead (...to the memory of whom a fund was created...), so I would use a simple past "played"

[MrPedantic]

Yes, I'd say D ("played") as well.

To my ears, there's a slight dissonance in the sentence itself, though. "For the past two decades" suggests "a connection to the present" (i.e. his death is quite recent); so I would have expected "to the memory of whom a fund has been created".

MrP