In Memoriam

During my time with Great South Bay Audubon, I have had the honor of meeting really wonderful people. Based on their dedication and time commitments, as well as their willingness to pass on what they have learned, I think they are the last generation of true volunteers. Too often in the last year or so, we are noting the passing of another member who is a piece of our legacy. We want to honor them for the persons they were while they graced the Earth, but also to inspire those who may not have known them with the quality of human relationships we have the opportunity to develop in an organization like this. 

I didn’t know Harry Anderson very well as he was retiring from a very long tenure on our board around the time I was joining. I didn’t know Ken Ward at all but have heard of him often. Some of our other members who did know them have been good enough to share a little insight. – Annette Brownell

HARRY ANDERSON 

Longtime member, Sandpiper editor, contributor to Sandpiper etc. 

He was a very good writer and I looked forward to his pithy style and sense of humor. I would occasionally bump into him at the diner in Bay Shore and we would talk books. He taught English at the local high school and I learned a lot from him through his articles on conservation and environmental issues. A thoroughly enjoyable fellow to spend time with. I will miss him and thank him for his service to the Audubon Society. – Jack Finkenberg 

BOB WILSON 

Bob Wilson, together with his lovely wife Edith joined GSBAS in the early 1980s, and became involved in numerous projects, only a few of which are listed here, installing and monitoring Tree Swallow nest boxes at Gardiner Park, monitoring Piping Plovers, Birding and Breakfast at Connetquot, installing a Bluebird trail at Connetquot, and volunteering for numerous events with GSBAS. 

KEN WARD 

Long Time member, Past president of GSBAS promoted restoration and preservation of the Orowoc Creek Preserve in Islip 1988. 

I was very sad to hear today of the passing of another of Great South Bay Audubon’s colorful and memorable past presidents. Ken Ward was one of many established birders who helped me in my early years with the club. Ken was a regular on club field trips with Harold Wellander and Fran File, but he was also one of the few birders I knew who traveled extensively back in those days, and 

could talk with first-hand knowledge of the near mythical sites in Arizona or Texas or California that I wouldn’t see for many years. 

Ken was always a gentleman and a pleasure to be around. He and his wife Patty, were always ready to help out with the Captree Christmas Count, both in the field and in the kitchen, contributing food as well as support at the compilation dinners. I have fond memories of get togethers at Hawk Mountain, where Ken would bring the Yukon Jack or Southern Comfort and Larry Merryman would bring a book of Robert W. Service poems, and we would all stay up far later than birders should listening to the stories of Dan McGrew and Bessie’s Boil! Good times, old boy – I’m glad I was there to share them. – Mike Cooper