MEMORIALS
Thoughts and memories of fellow members
123 topics in this forum
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Hugh Harries
by John Dransfield- 1 follower
- 1 reply
- 1.8k 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
- 3.2k 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
- 1.8k 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
- 1.7k 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
- 1.7k 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
- 2.5k 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
- 5.4k 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
- 3k 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
- 1.6k 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
- 5.7k 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
- 1.8k 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
- 1.8k 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
- 3.6k 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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Ian Edwards
by palmtreesforpleasure- 1 follower
- 4 replies
- 2.1k 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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Dr. Natalie W. Uhl
by Scott Zona- 4 replies
- 2.4k 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
- 8.9k 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
- 2.2k 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
- 10.7k 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
- 3.6k 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
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The most interesting man in the world
by mcrawford- 2 replies
- 1.9k views
I just got a call this morning from the son of Max Wurzel of the San Fernando valley. He called to say his dad had passed a few days back and he was going thru his phone book calling all his friend w/the news. Max lived to 95 and packed more adventure into those years than any 5 others I know. He was a gardener/groundskeeper by trade, but an Indiana Jones by nature. The day I first met him, he invited me over to see his garden- all things tropical, as you can only grow in that area and with 80+ yrs of experience. He then sat me down for a mesmerizing couple hours looking at several slide shows of his travels, mostly to South America. …
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R I P Jim Wright
by DoomsDave- 10 replies
- 3.3k views
I went to the celebration on September 26, 2015 down at the Quail. (Oops, San Diego Botanical gardens! ) We gathered in the Walled Garden and paid our respects to Jim Wright. If you were there, represent! Here's Phil Bergman, who told a bunch of wonderful stories and anecdotes.
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Rest In Peace Richard DOUGLAS 1 2
by PalmGuyWC- 1 follower
- 47 replies
- 10.7k views
I told you guys last week it was Richard's birthday day And it was a good one !! He got lots of phone calls and well wishes from all of his friends Well friday I had to rush him back to John Muir and by yesterday after noon they took him off all the anti biotics ect and He is now resting comfortably but in his final time here on earth .. He could be around for another day but essentialy he is gone GOD BLESS RICHARD DOUGLAS !! I KNOW SAINT PETER WILL WELCOME YOU WITH OPEN ARMS !!
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Leo Gamble - The Palm Place
by Daryl- 2 replies
- 2k views
Sad news today, one of the most popular of Southeast Queensland's palm nurserymen, and palm lover, Leo Gamble, has passed away. Our thoughts are with his family in this sad time. Leo and his wife Jeanne had one of the premier palm nurseries in Australia, selling and distributing many choice Madagascan and New Caledonian palms, along with many other species from around the world. Their display garden and nursery near Wappa Falls, was outstanding and contained many stunning specimens. Many photos of their garden have appeared on Palmtalk, and the garden will live on in our thoughts for many decades. I don't know what the future holds for Jeanne and the garden, but I know it…
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- 1 follower
- 40 replies
- 8.7k views
Palm Society, It saddens me to announce the passing of another palm legend, Mardi Darian of Vista, California. Many have known Mardi for decades. In fact, we just had a tour of his garden by the PSSC in early July of this year. Unfortunately, on this past Tuesday, 25 August, Mardi died. He was 82 years old. I confirmed this with his wife, Cherie, a few minutes ago. He passed away in peace with no pain. Mardi was best known for his knowledge of the palms of Madagascar. He made a total of eleven trips to that island over several decades to study its palms. He was influential in describing species that were later formally named by palm taxonomists. In fact, one very exotic…
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Leo Gamble - The Palm Place
by Daryl- 3 replies
- 1.4k views
Sad news today, one of the most popular of Southeast Queensland's palm nurserymen, and palm lover, Leo Gamble, has passed away. Our thoughts are with his family in this sad time. Leo and his wife Jeanne had one of the premier palm nurseries in Australia, selling and distributing many choice Madagascan and New Caledonian palms, along with many other species from around the world. Their display garden and nursery near Wappa Falls, was outstanding and contained many stunning specimens. Many photos of their garden have appeared on Palmtalk, and the garden will live on in our thoughts for many decades. I don't know what the future holds for Jeanne and the garden, but I know it…