It was with great sadness that we learned today that our good friend Bob Dickerman passed away. He had recently suffered a stroke and died as he wished, peacefully at home. He was a remarkable person and had a remarkable life. He was a good friend, and he will be sorely missed.
I first met Bob when he came to Minnesota to join the retirement celebration for Dwain Warner, who during his long career had at different times advised both of us as graduate students. That was 1987, before Bob retired from the Cornell Medical School. He was also active as a Research Associate at the American Museum of Natural History, where he had an office. After he retired, he moved to New Mexico and took over as Curator of Birds at the Museum of Southwestern Biology at the University of New Mexico, where the bird collection blossomed under his energetic oversight.
Bob had been coming up to Alaska periodically to work with Brina Kessel and Dan Gibson before I arrived here in 1997. That summer he came up and stayed with Rose and I while we worked in Fairbanks and other parts of Alaska, including trips to Southeast Alaska and Kodiak and Attu islands. That was the first of many exciting field adventures that we had together (some of this is in Walking Wild Shores). Bob reveled in fieldwork and travel, and he was remarkably active until quite recently. He wrote about some of his fascinating Mexican work in Moments of Discovery.
Bob still had several works in progress, so we’ll continue to see some of his writings appear. In the meantime, Rose and I had a special dinner tonight that was pure Bob Dickerman, and we’re tipping back a glass of his favorite beverage in fond remembrance. Farewell, good friend! You are much missed.
Bob Dickerman with a Rock Ptarmigan, Nome, Alaska
Dong Burgers and Whiskey
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I’m so sorry for your loss, Kevin. I know how much Bob meant to you.
We did likewise. Dan drank some bourbon, and though it was not quite as “Bob” as dong burgers, we had pheasant from Minnesota which I think he would have enjoyed.
Sounds delicious!
And such a generous man as well! While I never had the privilege of being in the field with Bob (Greg did to Liberia in 1990), we have been on the receiving end of his generosity . He made the trip to Peru in 2008 more comfortable by paying for a private bus to Jaen and back! Greg got to represent Bob on a collecting trip to Alaska last summer! I am sure there are other generosities as well that I am un
aware of! And there were many a lunches on Bob as well! A wonderful and unique individual for sure!
Yes, Bob was a very generous and unpretentious person. He donated all the time and money that he spent up here, and our bird collection benefited tremendously. And we did as individuals, too, for he was always fun to work with.
Sorry to hear this news Kevin. I really enjoyed meeting Bob.
Rest in Peace Bob.
Thanks, Barbara. Yes, we all enjoyed meeting Bob, and we’ll all have fond memories of our times with him.
Great photo, and nicely said. Few have lived richer lives, and we all were lucky to be a part of it!
Yes, indeed. Lucky we were.