MEMORIALS
Thoughts and memories of fellow members
129 topics in this forum
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RIP WAL
by Daryl- 2 followers
- 38 replies
- 5.5k views
Hi Everyone, it is a very sad day for the Aussie Ratpackers and all who loved him, but Wal Donovan passed away early this morning, April the 25th, a national day of remembrance in Australia (ANZAC Day). Wal will be sadly missed by his children and their families and all of us in the palm community. Also those members of PACSOA, BPACS and the IPS who have all had good times with Wal. Wal was our source of quirky jokes and also a great mate who looked after all around him, a generous and caring man whose friendship was greatly valued by all of us. It is truly a sad day and we will all miss him and his antics greatly. Wal was also an IPS director which shows hi…
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RIP Don Ellison
by Daryl- 3 replies
- 3.3k views
Don Ellison passed away yesterday. For those that don't know him, he published a Palm book back in 2001 that was widely circulated. https://books.google.com.au/books/about/Cultivated_Palms_of_the_World.html?id=STrAt8uYb-QC&source=kp_book_description&redir_esc=y&fbclid=IwAR1BQp7BqJ-5ZH1PLZH5Ujw73285Fr9KLuED-wM2sDycNnroFl3HlMv-Ij0 Don was also involved in many horticultural projects and businesses and was recently nominated for the Order of Australia for his contribution to Australian horticulture. His family runs one of the largest Howea seed/seedling export operations in Australia. Funnily I drove past his old place a couple of weeks ago. …
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Stanley Kiem, 1929-2020
by mnorell- 1 follower
- 0 replies
- 2.9k views
I've just been informed that Stanley Kiem has passed away. He was a part-time neighbor of ours and sold his longtime Big Pine Key property in the last couple of years and had been living at his home on a large property not far from Fairchild. I just heard this news from someone who was very close with Stanley for years. Stanley had just celebrated his 91st birthday on 11 March. I believe he was the last of the IPS's founding members, and he was superintendent of Fairchild for many years. He was a very important figure in tropical horticulture and his death really marks the end of an era. I'm sure there are many South Florida members who can relate some of his many, many c…
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John Fairey of Yuccado Nursery
by Meangreen94z- 1 reply
- 2.6k views
Hello, I received an email that John Fairey of the former Yuccado Nursery and Peckerwood Gardens(now John Fairey Garden), passed away on March 17, 2020. I don’t believe he was a member of the International Palm Society, but some of Yuccado Nursery’s contributions include bringing Sabal Tamaulipas, Brahea Moorei, and I believe the extremely blue variation of Sabal Uresana to U.S. cultivation. Among many other species of plants from Mexico and elsewhere. http://jfgarden.org/about/our-history/
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- 5 replies
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http://silverhillseeds.co.za/Newsletter.asp The information in this current newsletter from Silverhill Seeds was discussed at last year's NorCal Palm Society meeting in Berkeley. It's a very tragic event that adds to previous posts by Palmtalk folks regarding the many challenges of collecting seeds "in the wild" in some locations. I thought it was something to share with a wider audience in this forum.
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W.S. Merwin Passes
by Resume- 5 replies
- 3.8k views
W.S Merwin, U.S. poet laureate, two-time Pulitzer Prize winner, environmentalist, and palm enthusiast passed away Friday at his home in Hawaii. He was 91 https://merwinconservancy.org/land-and-home/press-release-w-s-merwin-permanently-preserves-rare-hawaiian-palm-forest/
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Poet & Palm Grower W.S. Merwin passes away at 91
by Hillizard- 0 replies
- 2k views
https://merwinconservancy.org/2019/03/pulitzer-prize-winning-poet-w-s-merwin-passes-away-at-91/ "In the mid-1970s, Merwin moved to Maui to study Zen Buddhism with Robert Aitken, who encouraged Merwin to purchase a denuded parcel of land on the island. He would build his home there and soon after, met his wife Paula Dunaway. The two attentively replanted their plot of land in the Pe’ahi Valley on the north shore of Maui, Hawaii. Slowly transforming a 'wasteland' one sapling at a time, into the thriving 19-acre palm forest that it is today, Merwin remained a dedicated and treasured member of the environmentalist community. The couple later established a non-profit orga…
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Hugh Harries
by John Dransfield- 1 reply
- 2.1k views
I have recently received the very sad news that our member Hugh Harries died on 7th February after a short illness. Hugh was passionate about coconuts and published widely, particularly on the origin and dispersal of Cocos nucifera. One of his most important papers is that in Botanical Reviews 44:265-319 (1978) but he also wrote several more light-hearted papers in Principes (now PALMS) such as "Darwin and the robber crab" and "Nuts to the garden of Eden" which, nevertheless have serious intent. We shall miss his sense of fun and his deep passion for his subject.
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John DeMott
by EllisB- 1 follower
- 5 replies
- 3.6k views
It is with great sadness and disbelieve that John DeMott has left us to join the great plant heaven. He was instrumental in the South Florida nursery industry as well as the Palm Society. I had the pleasure to work with him through the good and bad times. He inspired many. Rest in Peace John, You will be missed. Ellis
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Dick Endt
by richnorm- 1 follower
- 2 replies
- 2.1k views
Sad to report the passing of Dick Endt who did so much for our palm community here in NZ and beyond. A kind and generous man, he will be missed.
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Lou Thomas
by EllisB- 0 replies
- 1.9k views
It saddens me to report that Lou Thomas. Who provided palm seeds from his ranch in Belize. Has passed away over the weekend. Teakettle will still be operating. Lou you will truly be missed. I'm glad I got to see you a couple months ago. Rest in Peace.
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Ziggy Mayotte
by EllisB- 2 replies
- 2k views
Sad to report that the great Ziggy Mayotte has passed away. There will be a celebration of his life at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Gardens on Saturday July 7 starting at 11:00 am. He will be surely missed.
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Lucinda McCartney
by Cindy Adair- 2 followers
- 13 replies
- 3.1k views
I am sorry to tell everyone that Lucinda McCartney, mother of IPS Director Robert Blenker, passed away recently, unexpectedly, following surgery. She was an amazing person and many of you have met her in Florida or at the many IPS Biennials she attended. Besides her keen interest in palms, she recently started bee keeping, was a journalist, pilot and realtor who loved to fish. I can also attest to her cooking skills and overall excellent hospitality as I enjoyed my several visits to her lovely guest suite. I will never forget the first Florida trip we took in 2014, beginning near Sarasota and visiting many private and public gardens. Here are just a …
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R I P Ralph Velez
by DoomsDave- 1 follower
- 25 replies
- 6.4k views
Everyone: We are deeply saddened to inform that Ralph Velez, one of our longest-serving members, has passed away, on April 24th, 2018, in a hospice in Orange County after a long illness. He will always be remembered for his lifelong enthusiasm about palm culture and a long serving member of the IPS, as well as the Palm Society for Southern California.. More details will be provided when they become available.
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RIP Alfred Razafindratsira
by BS Man about Palms- 3 replies
- 3.4k views
I'm kinda surprised to not find this here yet, but Alfred of the Beccariophoenix alfredii fame and major seed supplier for a huge amount of the Madagascar palms passed away this past Tuesday I believe. I find it comforting that just by happenstance I planted this alfredii on Monday. I have had it for years courtesy Pete Balasky who got the seed from Alfred before it was named. RIP Alfred, a great contributor to the plant and Palm world.
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R I P Elva West
by DoomsDave- 0 replies
- 1.8k views
http://obits.ocregister.com/obituaries/orangecounty/obituary.aspx?page=lifestory&pid=187527358 He was a longtime member of the PSSC and I remember his enormous Hyophorbe langencaulis at his estate in the hills of Anaheim, before they called it Anaheim Hills.
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Sad day - Allan Bredeson 1 2
by Alberto- 2 followers
- 44 replies
- 6.9k views
Very sad day,A few minutes ago we heard about the passing away from our dear friend Allan. Family, friends, palms, travelling where his passions. We all will miss him for sure
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Larry Schokman, former director at The Kampong
by fastfeat- 2 replies
- 2.1k views
Former director of the Kampong, avid plantsman, and all around good guy Larry Schokman has passed away following a recent heart attack. He was 82 years young. I, for one, will miss his enthusiasm and positive spirit. RIP, friend. http://ediblesouthflorida.ediblecommunities.com/food-thought/memoriam-larry-schokman
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Bob Hastings
by MattyB- 4 replies
- 2.1k views
My neighbor, and good friend, Bob Hastings has passed away today from old age. He will be missed. Here's a thread I did from when I first met Bob and toured his garden, before I even knew that someday I'd be living right next door. Rest in peace Bob. I hope all your cosmic ponderings have now been answered. http://www.palmtalk.org/forum/index.php?/topic/2131-i-found-my-thrill/#comment-35170
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Carol Hooper
by DoomsDave- 1 follower
- 14 replies
- 4.1k views
Everyone: I was advised yesterday by Don Hodel that Carol Hooper, formerly of La Habra, passed away yesterday at about 11 a.m. in a hospice. She was there for an inoperable brain tumor. Will advise as to times, places, etc. of memorial services, if any. Until very recently, Carol and her husband Louis lived "down the hill" from me in La Habra, and I had occasion to spend many a happy afternoon with them. Occasionally, I had taken pictures and posted them on Palm Talk. RIP Carol, miss you.
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Dr. Natalie W. Uhl
by Scott Zona- 4 replies
- 2.7k views
This message came today from Dr. John Dransfield: "I have just learned from one of her daughters, Mary Uhl, that Natalie Uhl, our greatly respected and much loved colleague, died from pneumonia at a hospital in Georgia near the retirement home where she lived for the past few years. She was 97 years old. Natalie's great contribution to palm botany was celebrated at the World Palm Conference two years ago in Colombia." Natalie was the long-time editor of Principes/Palms, a co-author of Genera Palmarum, and a pioneer in the study of palm anatomy. She was also a kind and generous person. She will be missed. Scott
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Rich Trapnell
by Pedro 65- 28 replies
- 9.7k views
Rich Trapnell sadly passsed away yesterday June 6th. Rich was born April 23 1950 in Wilmington Delaware USA. He attended Westminster boarding school in Conneticut then studied at Harvard University. Rich moved to Australia in 1971 to pursue his passion in nature by growing and selling tropical exotic fruit trees and rare palms, by the mid to late 80's Rich and Rosebud farms business comprised mainly of selling rare palm seedlings and plants. Rich prided himself in selling the highest quality palm seedlings and plants available to the public. Rich died exactly 40 years to the day he moved to 'Rosebud Farm' Karanda far north Queensland and will be sadly missed by all,H…
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Remember Dick Douglas today - it's his birthday
by DoomsDave- 2 replies
- 2.5k views
Mr. Douglas (PalmGuyWC) was a very senior member of the Northern California palm society, and held an epic meeting in 2010 at his place in Walnut Creek which I had the privilege and pleasure to attend, as well as meeting Mr. Douglas and the No-Cal contingent. R I P Not forgotten!
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-Remember RLR Today
by PALM MOD- 1 follower
- 34 replies
- 11.4k views
It wouldn't hurt to take a moment and have a pleasant thought or two about the man and his accomplishments on his birthday. I for one have a much greater appreciation for what Bob put together here.
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DeArmand Hull
by Jeff Searle- 1 follower
- 7 replies
- 3.8k views
I just found out today that De Hull passed away either earlier today or maybe yesterday. Just not too sure. De was legendary back in the 70's through the early 2000's here in south Florida as a collector of palms and palm vendor for over 25 years at Fairchild Tropical Gardens in Miami. Just a few years back he had moved out to Hawaii, on the big island. RIP. Jeff
