As a student of the classics he was passionate about Greece, its mountains and plants (such as Paeonia)[50] and all things Greek, both ancient and modern.[51] The Stearns had formed a friendship with Constantine Goulimis and Niki and Angelos Goulandris, founders of the Goulandris Museum of Natural History[52] in Kifissia, Athens. Stearn first met the Goulandris' in 1967, and offered practical help with their museum.