In Memoriam

This page is dedicated to outstanding leaders in Connecticut birding and the Connecticut Ornithological Association who are no longer with us.

• Roland C. Clement
• Neil Currie
• Henry “Hank” T. Golet
• Roger Tory Petersen
• Noble S. Proctor
• Arne Rosengren
• Fred Schroeder
• George W. Zepko
• Joe Zeranski

Roger Tory Petersen, 1908 – 1996

The recent passing of Roger Tory Peterson marks the end of an era in American ornithology. The Peterson Field Guide series, beginning with the publication of the first edition of A Field Guide to the Birds of the Eastern United States in 1934, changed forever our way of looking at the natural world. His illustrations, coupled with attention to field marks, range maps, and descriptions of species allowed us to seek out new creatures and to confirm our observations. The guides, in helping us to study and learn about the creatures with which we share our planet, also have helped us to better understand the complexities of the world in which we live.

Yet, Roger Tory Peterson’s legacy to the birders and the naturalists of today goes far beyond his famous collection of field guides. His sheer enjoyment of the outdoors and his enthusiasm for birds and other wild creatures should serve as an example for all of us.

As Connecticut birders, many of us should feel a special kinship for Roger, as he lived here among us in the Nutmeg state. It wasn’t too many years ago, while on a birding excursion to the Connecticut shoreline, that we observed Roger photographing gulls in Old Saybrook. In spite of the desire of some members of our group to I approach him and ask him to autograph their field guides, cooler heads prevailed and we remained content to watch him from a distance. Here was a man, about 80 years old at that time, obviously enjoying his work with so “mundane” a species as Ring-billed Gulls! Would that the rest of us I might find such pleasure, not only in the rare and unusual, but in the marvels of all species.

Although he will likely best be remembered as an artist, in my mind Roger Tory Peterson was an educator of the highest order. By helping millions develop an interest in the world of birds and in the world of nature, Roger has done more for conservation and preservation of the environment than any other individual of this century.

Roger Tory Petersen died in Old Lyme at the age of 87.

Adapted from COA Bulletin, Fall 1996
by Jay Kaplan

Roland C. Clement, 1912 – 2015

Roland C. Clement, Founding President of the Connecticut Ornithological Association (1984-1986), died at his Hamden, Connecticut home on March 21, 2015, age 102 years. In addition to his central role in the formation and early guidance of COA, Roland was an important contributor to numerous international and national conservation organizations. He served with the National Audubon Society from 1958 to 1977, first as membership secretary, then as staff biologist, then staff ecologist, and as Vice-President prior to his retirement from NAS. He was an extraordinarily articulate and effective communicator of scientific information to the general public. COA is planning further tributes to Roland’s contributions to ornithology, conservation, and environmentalism in future publications of the COA Bulletin and The Connecticut Warbler.

(Left) Roland Clement at Chatham, Massachusetts, June 1, 2009. Photo by Steve Broker

(Right) Roland C. Clement, Self-Portrait. A dedicated and talented water-colorist, Roland derived great pleasure from drawing and painting in the field and in his “studio” at home. Many of his art works focused on his interpretation of birds in their natural habitats.

COA Bulletin, Summer 2015
by Steve Broker

Arne Rosengren, 1922 – 2021

The CT birding community will want to join me and the other members of the New Haven Bird Club in remembering with affection and admiration Arne Rosengren, who passed away peacefully on May 10,[2021] at the age of 99. I’m collecting memories of Arne to put together for the club, and hope that people who knew him will email me their thoughts and stories about him at fmcb_warbler@yahoo.com .

He loved to help people learn about birds, and was unfailingly generous with his time. He would often stop to talk with birders and others that he met in the field, and would answer their questions and talk for just about as long as they wanted to. I first met him by telephone when I was just starting my serious US birding. Having learned that Harriet Miller was the president of the NHBC, I called her to ask for help with identifying a hawk perched in our back yard. She said, “The person you want to talk to is Arne Rosengren,” and gave me his phone number. Arne talked to me, a perfect stranger, for at least half an hour that day, and it wasn’t long before we were birding together a lot, often with George and Millie Letis and sometimes John Maynard, and later with Nancy Rosenbaum too.

I’m sure I’m far from the only person who saw special birds because of Arne. He showed me my first owls, in November, 1982 — two Long-eared Owls he knew about in the marsh at Lighthouse Point, followed by an unexpected Barred Owl near the park entrance. Then in November, 1983, he phoned to tell me that he’d gotten a call from Fred Sibley about a Snowy Owl on the roof of Harkness Hall at Yale, and we saw that one too; amazingly no passers-by were noticing it. In return, I was glad that I could show him some of the birds that I found at Lake Whitney, like a Red-necked Phalarope in May 1982, and a Caspian Tern in May 1983.

Arne was a real Renaissance man. He was fascinated by politics and read the NY Times every day, always walking to a nearby store to get it. A lover of Gilbert and Sullivan and of opera, he had a wide knowledge of those repertoires. He also knew well the popular music of the 30’s and 40’s, and once played me recordings of the a cappella singing group he was part of as an undergraduate at Wesleyan. It was fun to break into song with him once in a while.  He loved baseball, and was a die-hard Red Sox fan, who looked forward every year to the start of spring training — and then, of course, to the return of the warblers. Also a master swimmer, for decades he swam at the Hamden High School pool every day it was open, and won medals in competitions.

A born storyteller, Arne gave some recorded interviews over the years. There’s one about his birding that was condensed for inclusion in the NHBC’s 2021 anthology, “Chickadee Tales.” Another is a fascinating 1995 narrative of his experiences as a US Naval officer in the Pacific in WWII. Told matter-of-factly, it is a vividly dramatic story; I’d be glad to send a pdf of it to anybody who’d like to see it.  We can also watch the slide show Laurie Reynolds worked with others to create in 2017 for the NHBC’s celebration of his 95th birthday. It’s at https://youtu.be/AguIi3tcy0M .

from Florence McBride, Hamden

Neil Currie, 1923 – 2020

Reflections about an Old Friend: Remembering Neil Currie

Fred Schroeder, ~1934 – 2021

We are sharing this tribute to the life of Fred Schroeder, which was published by the Connecticut Audubon Society: Connecticut Audubon is remembering Frederick D. Schroeder, a friend and birding companion as well as a former regional board member and one of the organization’s longest active members. Mr. Schroeder, who lived in Redding, died January 16, 2021, at age 86.

He and his wife, Jean, were part of a celebration at Connecticut Audubon’s 2019 annual meeting of the organization’s most loyal members – 40-plus people who had been members for 45 consecutive years or more. He worked locally to conserve birds in his hometown, banded birds in Fairfield, volunteered statewide as a board member of the Connecticut Ornithological Association, and was a longtime member of Connecticut Audubon’s Fairfield Board of Governors. His love of birds was founded on deep friendships within the birding community.

“We will miss Fred, a man of great intelligence and sly wit who donated so many thousands of hours to conservation activities,” Kathleen Van Der Aue, the chair of Connecticut Audubon’s Board of Directors, said. “His integrity and skill in accounting made him the ideal treasurer for many birding organizations. His common sense approach and knowledge of the law made him a valuable asset to our Connecticut Audubon Board and several others. We extend our heartfelt condolences to Jean, his wife of 62 years, and the rest of his family.”

Milan Bull, Connecticut Audubon’s senior director of science and conservation, said that he and Mr. Schroeder were friends for more than three decades. He said: “From field trips to East Africa, Galapagos, and Texas, to local birding expeditions, Fred has always been the kind of guy who, no matter the circumstance always had just the right sense of humor and good will to keep everyone smiling — including encountering a poisonous snake in the grass in Kenya which terrified Jean! He was a gentleman’s gentleman with a big heart, a gracious demeanor, and a wonderful intellect that could turn a difficult problem into a simple solution. For his character, ability and generosity he will always be remembered by his friends at Connecticut Audubon, and by me.”

Mr. Schroeder was a member of the bird banding team at Birdcraft Sanctuary in Fairfield, and a frequent supportive presence at Connecticut Audubon events and programs. Among his many conservation activities, he served as treasurer of the Connecticut Ornithological Association.

“I’ve had so many memorable experiences with Fred,” Kathleen Van Der Aue said. “While a lot of these centered around meals (always accompanied by a good wine), best were the quiet times, such as when we were working on a citizen science project studying the effects of forest fragmentation on thrushes. We sat in the woods identifying birds by their songs, a skill Fred encouraged me to learn that has enormously enhanced my birding. He also was instrumental in getting my husband to buy my first pair of Swarovskis when we were in Costa Rica on my birthday.

“I think my favorite memory was when we were on a Connecticut Audubon trip to Italy. Fred and I were up at dawn birding, leaving our spouses slumbering on peacefully. We noticed a Chickadee-like bird called a Willow Tit acting somewhat agitated and saw that its attention was centered on a rusty hole in a tennis net stanchion. A man was cutting the grass with a large tractor nearby and we watched breathlessly as the four nestlings fledged from the hole, one at a time, and were safely hustled to a nearby tree by the anxious parents.”

Connecticut Audubon Executive Director Patrick Comins said Mr. Schroeder was “a wonderful man” who helped him get his start in the conservation field: “Fred was absolutely selfless in his service to birds and the environment. He was particularly influential in conservation issues related to grassland bird management and served as a steward for the Town of Redding’s important Bobolink nesting areas. Fred provided several decades of critical service to the Connecticut Audubon Society, the Connecticut Ornithological Association and to his home town of Redding — a true champion for the birds and their habitats.”

COA Bulletin, Spring 2021

George W. Zepko, 1936 – 2021

George W. Zepko made significant and lasting contributions to the appreciation, study, and conservation of birds in Connecticut. As manager of user services at Wesleyan University’s computing center, George coordinated all the data processing of Connec

ticut’s first Breeding Bird Atlas during the five years of statewide field work, 1982 to 1986. His long-term monitoring of the state endangered Barn Owl included banding young in three Middlesex County barn and water tower nest sites. George’s support of the National Audubon Society-sponsored Connecticut Christmas Bird Count included participation in a record number of counts statewide, including more than 50 consecutive years on the Westport, CT CBC.

Most characteristically, George believed in giving back to others. In 1955, he was the recipient of a scholarship to the National Audubon Society Nature Study Camp for teachers and adult students at Hog Island, Maine. In the last several years, George has established a permanent endowment for future young recipients of the George W. Zepko Audubon Camp Scholarship. For these and other accomplishments, the Connecticut Ornithological Association presented George with the Mabel 

Osgood Wright Award for 2020. George Zepko’s insightful philosophy, wise counsel, gentle sense of humor, and steadfast friendship continue to be treasured by those who knew him.

COA Bulletin, Fall 2021

Henry “Hank” T. Golet, 1937 – 2021

The Connecticut birding community and the DEEP Wildlife Division lost a volunteer extraordinaire, with Hank Golet’s passing on October 15, 2021. For over four decades (and maybe longer), Hank contributed to the study, documentation, and conservation of wildlife in Connecticut.

Hank was soft spoken with a wonderful sense of humor. He considered himself a birder and general naturalist but he was so much more. What Hank contributed the most was his time. Time to put up more osprey platforms on the Roger Tory Peterson Wildlife Area, time to replace their predator guards when they were pitted by salt water, time to monitor bald eagle nests, time to collect sightings of snakes and insects, time to walk through Nehantic State Forest almost daily looking at wildlife, time to take some breathtaking photographs.

And, the time and boat transportation to monitor osprey nests and help band osprey chicks year after year. Plus, he could operate an aerial lift with one hand and hold an osprey chick in the other thanks to his lineman days with CL&P! Hank could also be counted on to take the time to share his knowledge and passion for wildlife with anyone who asked or showed an interest. Where wildlife and the DEEP Wildlife Division are concerned, he was a man for all seasons and will be sorely missed.

Adapted with permission from the DEEP Connecticut Wildlife Bulletin, Julie Victoria
Announcement in Lyme Line.

Noble S. Proctor, 1942 – 2015

Noble Proctor died on May 28, 2015. He touched the lives of so many of us, and his natural history legacy is rich and deep. The Mabel Osgood Wright Award was presented to Noble at the March 9, 2002 Annual Meeting of the Connecticut Ornithological Association.

Fred Sibley and Wayne Petersen’s award presentation included the following: “The Mabel Osgood Wright Award recognizes a person’s lifetime contributions to ornithology in its broadest sense. Mabel Osgood Wright was a pioneer in bird conservation in the 1900s, a leader in popularizing birding and an inspiration to thousands. In a similar manner, this year’s recipient has, by his presence, his writings, and his teaching, enriched Connecticut Ornithology by much more than the sum of his accomplishments.

“He received his Ph.D. from the University of Connecticut and has been a professor, teaching numerous biology and natural history courses, at Southern Connecticut State University since the 1970s. His former students number in the thousands. He is an accomplished photographer and writer with numerous books including the latest edition of the Peterson Field Guide to Eastern Birds and the outstanding Manual of Ornithology. He has been a sought-after tour leader for almost 30 years and has taken groups to over 65 countries.

“It is Noble Proctor the naturalist, teacher, mentor, author, scientist, and conservationist that is being recognized here today. Noble has touched the lives of all who ever had the privilege of knowing or working with him. His list of accomplishments in the field of Connecticut ornithology is too lengthy to recount, and his influence beyond the borders of the Nutmeg State is international in scope. It is only fitting that the Mabel Osgood Wright Award, the Connecticut Ornithological Association’s most distinguished tribute, be presented to Noble Proctor, truly one of the greatest North American naturalists of our time.”

COA Bulletin, Fall 2015

Joe Zeranski, 1948- 2019

Joseph D. Zeranski, an important figure in Connecticut ornithology for the past 50 years, died in Greenwich on December 8, 2019. He was 78 years old.

Joe began birding in the 1960s in Greenwich and was strongly influenced by William Bolton Cook and Ces Spofford, two long-time birders and friends of Roger Tory Peterson. Joe was a founding director of the Connecticut Ornithological Association, and he served on its Board for many years. Joe’s dedication to the COA was in part due to his desire to establish and grow a statewide birding organization to contribute to the body of knowledge of birds. For his many efforts, Joe received the COA Mabel Osgood Wright Award in 2010. He co-compiled the Greenwich-Stamford Christmas Bird Count from 1972 to 1983. He was a board member of Greenwich Audubon Society for many years, and several of its programs and activities, including establishing the Quaker Ridge Hawk Watch at the Audubon Center in Greenwich, were among Joe’s initiatives. Quaker Ridge has become one of the premier hawk watch sites in southern New England. Joe co-authored Connecticut Birds, published in 1990 by the University Press of New England, the first compendium of Connecticut bird populations, distribution and trends, since 1913. Joe served on the Greenwich Conservation Commission from 1978 to 1996 and played a leadership role in shaping the conservation movement in Greenwich, including advocating conservation zoning and publishing numerous natural resource and historical booklets and papers. Joe traveled with his birding friends throughout the country and his trips to Texas, Arizona, California, Washington and Oregon were among his favorites. He was a serious lister and he enjoyed the competition among his friends. Joe was a constant source of ideas and suggestions, and he influenced and counseled conservation leaders throughout Connecticut. He will be missed.

COA Bulletin, Volume 35, No. 1, Spring
by Tom Baptist