MEMORIALS
Thoughts and memories of fellow members
121 topics in this forum
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Vince Gongora
by palmazon- 6 replies
- 2.5k views
Vince ran a modest nursery under the powerlines off the Cherry Avenue exit from the 91 freeway in North Long Beach. He had a coconut and Zamia pseudoparasitica growing in his hothouse. He once gave me a bundle of palms that had rooted through the flat and said "Here you go - start a nursery." He passed away November 8.
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Black Olive Nursery
by Jeff Searle- 6 replies
- 5.2k views
Mark was found yesterday in his home with no heartbeat. Unfortunately, Mark just could not fight off his need for painkillers and drugs. Very sad. Mark had one of the nicest retail and wholesale nurseries in all of south Florida. He was known to many and will be missed.
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Mike Burnett
by Scott McDonald- 1 follower
- 6 replies
- 3.4k views
I just received an email from Mike's brother Steve Burnett, and it's not good: Hello Mike's Friends This is Mike's brother Steve. After over 8 months with his battle with cancer Mike has passed away into peace. He has been really suffering for some time now. Up until his last final words, if he was asked how he was doing he would say "fine thank you". He never complained and the worst he ever had to say about his illness was 'this is so sad'. He made so many friends at the VA hospital. Everyone loved his attitude and warmth toward all. His two sisters, his niece Tammy and I were with him as he passed as was Pat Speck, his long time friend. He will surely be ve…
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Memorial for Ralph Velez
by DoomsDave- 6 replies
- 2.9k views
Everyone: I've just been advised that a memorial service will be held at Sherman Gardens, Corona del Mar, California (Orange County) on Monday, June 18, 2018, at 7:00 p.m.; guests may arrive at 6:00 p.m. There will be a memorial concert by Ralph's son, Steve Velez. Click on the link below for directions, etc., as to Sherman Gardens. Ralph would have loved this, and so, I think, will you. http://www.slgardens.org/visit
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Ken Hill
by Cycadcenter- 6 replies
- 4.3k views
Ken Hill, cycad botanist from Sydney Botanical Gardens passed away this morning following a long illness. Ken was undoubtably the leading cycad botanist in the world with his expertise being cycas and macrozamia where he described about 50 species. He also described the Wollemi pine and was responsible for the reclassification of eucalypts in Australia. Bye friend.
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Philip James Morgan was born Nov 21 1948 in Inglewood, CA to his parents Shirley and Thomas Morgan. He attended Palomar College where he met his wife Joanie in the early 70s. He also worked at Palomar College for many years as custodial supervisor until his retirement in 2010. At the college he helped establishing and maintaining the Palm Garden. He and his wife lived in Leucadia since 1976, where he created a tropical oasis that included many species of rare palms. A longtime advocate of palm trees and the Palm Society, Phil had an excellent knowledge of palms and would promote palms with anyone that visited his garden. His humor and personality definitely be…
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David Romney...Coconut Authority
by Jeff Searle- 6 replies
- 3k views
It is with a very sad heart that I pass the news along that Mr. David Romney has passed away a couple of days ago here in south Florida. I believe he was born in Jamaica where he lived many years and worked with the government in the study of coconuts, lethal yellowing and all the developments of newer varieties over the years. He , his wife Shirley and daughter Carol lived in the Homestead area for at least the last 30-40 years or so. The Romney's were always a big vendor at the Fairchild Botanical Gardens palm sales each and every year where many varieties of coconuts could be found. David was a true legend. Over the years, he wrote numerous papers, journals and books. …
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Matt Encinosa
by Licuala- 6 replies
- 3.2k views
I am sorry to report that a long time palm society member, Matt Encinosa, passed away yesterday. He lived in Jacksonville and was a member of the First Coast Palm Society where he was instrumental in experimenting with various palm species growing there. In so doing, he found a number that did quite well in that cooler climate and helped expand the palette of species usable there. Matt was a commercial artist and some may have a copy of the panting he did of Pseudophoenix ekmanii he did a number of years ago. A celebration of his life will be heard September 1st at the Mandarin United Methodist Church in Jacksonville. Time will be announced soon. Matt will be mi…
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Harry Luther
by Kim- 6 replies
- 2.6k views
It was with surprise and dismay that I read on Planet Bromeliad this morning that Harry Luther has passed away. I never met him, but his name is well known to any avid grower of bromeliads. Condolences to his family. http://www.bsi.org/brom_info/harry_departs.html
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RIP Jason Baker
by Rafael- 5 replies
- 3.7k views
It is with great sorrow that i report that our friend Jason Baker died a few moments ago, after months of fighting rectal cancer, without recourse to traditional medicine, which he did with conviction. Let us pray for the soul of our friend.
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Glynn Whiddon
by Tad- 5 replies
- 4.9k views
Glynn Whiddon had a heart attack this afternoon around one, one thirty and passed away. A lot of people in the Tx palm society knew Glynn, and owe what they have in their collection to his efforts. He was very knowledgeble about palms,cycads,and plants in general. He owned and ran Rainforest Wholesale Nursery and Landscaping in Harlingen, Tx. He had quite a few friends here on the board and will be missed by many people. He and I had some different views about plants, and other things, but he never hesitated to answer my never ending strings of questions, when we hosted a palm society meeting he gave me several compliments and I was so stoked, that he took notice…
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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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David McLean Passes
by palmislandRandy- 5 replies
- 2k views
I just learned David McLean, A larger-tha-life figure in South Florida horticulturalist passed away on June, 4, 2014. I had the good fortune to meet up with David on many occasions & he was quite a character. He was a teacher, friend & all around self confessed plant nut. He will certainly be missed by those who had the opportunity to know him. Randy
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Dave Lewis 1966-2009
by JD in the OC- 5 replies
- 3.9k views
One of our good friends Dave Lewis died today. He was electrocuted when a Ficus limb he was cutting fell on a power wire on Sanibel Island. He took pride in his "Lewis Cut", a method he used to trim coconuts, queens, and cabbage palms. He truly enjoyed working with and learning about palms. Dave always put his friends above himself. We will miss you Dave. God bless!
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Jim Noll
by pogobob- 5 replies
- 2.5k views
My friend and neighbor Jim Noll passed away early this morning. He was a long time palm and cycad grower with a fine garden mixed in with his avocado orchard.
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John DeMott
by EllisB- 1 follower
- 5 replies
- 2.8k 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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Alaric Prince
by palmazon- 5 replies
- 5.4k views
Last Saturday, I was both surprised and saddened to hear Al Prince passed on. For those who don't know, he donated his time as Back Issues chairman for the Southern California Palm Society - he was the white guy with dreadlocks attending most meetings; he also shared a booth at the Fullerton Arboretum Show & Sale. He ran a nursery called Suburban Paradise - the impression he gave me was a modest hobbyist operation in Anaheim. Through an associate, I learned he was growing some unusual palms - Irving Cantor's Chamaedorea hybrid, Trachycarpus takil, and some germination attempts with 'mule' Butiagrus seed. We only became acquainted when I contacted him regarding a form…
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-Bobby, my friend, my brother
by Lindagay- 5 replies
- 5.1k views
I got the call on Friday evening at 10:30 that Bob had passed. I was shocked and speechless as I had just spoken to him 2 weeks prior. Bobby and I had many evening discussions on the phone about plant meetings, palms and the proper pronunciation of the latin genera, that I constantly slaughtered. The first time I met Bob was when he came to Mercer Arboretum around 1998. He had been to the garden before, but visited with our botanist at that time and she was not too much into palms or tropicals. I did not know he had come to the garden then. When Ms. Em (later referred as Ms. Neiman Marcus because she was so much maintenance!) brought him to the garden, we did …
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W.S. Merwin Passes
by Resume- 5 replies
- 2.7k 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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- 1 follower
- 4 replies
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Tragic news. Just found out that Charlie Maas (CharlieM here on PalmTalk) died Thursday March 26th. Charlie was a past Vice President of Hawaii Island Palm Society, a good friend, and an enthusiastic palm grower with a beautiful garden on Alapai Street, one street away from where I live. My thoughts go out to his wife J. and family. Charlie will definitely be missed. Bo-Göran
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Dr. Natalie W. Uhl
by Scott Zona- 4 replies
- 2.3k 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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Fare Well, Lois Rossten
by DoomsDave- 4 replies
- 3k views
Howdyall: Went to Lois Rossten's memorial service in Huntington Beach today. It was held at a Lutheran church, of which she had been a member for many years, possibly soon after it was founded. The chapel was filled to capacity with friends, including many PSSC members of which I was probably the youngest. Lois and her husband had been married less than a month short of 65 years. She was 85. I met her numerous times, and the light of her smile outshone the sun . . .
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Ian Edwards
by palmtreesforpleasure- 1 follower
- 4 replies
- 2k views
To all who knew him, Yesterday we celebrated the life of Ian Edwards, who passed away a few weeks ago. Many of you will remember Ian's articles, palm talk posts, pictures on Pacsoa website, and he Norma hosting people from all over the World around their palm Collection. Ian was mentor to many of us in Australia and would also answer questions to any one who PM him for advice. He was a man we all had a lot of respect for. Ian was a former Director of IPS 1998-2002. His 40 years of growing and germinating palm knowledge will be missed by us all here. Many species of Chamaedorea were introduced by both of them into Australia and they were always ge…
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RIP Luc Vannoorbeeck, Mr. Plumeria
by fastfeat- 4 replies
- 2.2k views
Just heard that Luc, owner of Florida Colors Nursery in Homestead, passed away this AM. Luc was a regular participant at TFTS sales with his tables full of plumeria flowers and plants. Even if you weren't that into plumerias, it was hard not to appreciate Luc's passion and expertise with them. Regards to his wife Carol and his family.
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Herbert Weber
by PalmGuyWC- 4 replies
- 4.2k views
I just received news that long time Palm Society member Herbert Webber passed away after an extended illness. No details yet. Herb lived in N. Calif. for many years, but moved to Mexico several years ago. Dick