He had a lifelong interest in natural history and a keen interest in birding. He was past president of the Washington Crossing Audubon Society and Trenton Naturalist Club. He was field trip and program chairman for both clubs for many years. He led field trips and gave courses in birding for the Hopewell Valley School system, Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association, Friends of Hamilton-Trenton Marsh, and Isles. He also was co-compiler of the National Audubon Princeton Christmas count since 1999. He received the "Friends of Hopewell Valley Open Space 2003 Jack Gleeson Memorial Environmental Award."

Born in Philadelphia, Mr.Beck was a 1953 graduate of the Philadelphia Textile Institute (Philadelphia University). He served in the U.S. Navy Reserve and was on active duty aboard the U.S.S. Kirkpatrick (DER 318) from 1955 to 1957. Mr. Beck worked as a research chemist for the Textile Research Institute, where he co-authored a number of journal papers on the subject of thermal analysis; National Lead Co., and FMC, from which he retired in 1998. He was active in Pennington Boy Scout Troop 41 from 1960 to 1977 and was scout master from 1962 to 1977. He received the Boy Scouts of America's "Award of Merit" from the George Washington Council. His family was the most important thing in his life. Son of the late Louis and Elizabeth Beck, he is survived by his wife of 60 years, Gloria Beck, their five children, and 13 grandchildren; a brother and three nieces.

Donations may be made to Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association or Washington Crossing Audubon Society.

Dr. Frank Edward Bader, age 75, died in his home in Lawrenceville, New Jersey at noon on Monday, November 22 after a brief battle with cancer. Frank is survived by his ex-wife Marcie Watson Bader, his sons Nick and Matthew, five grandchildren (Tanguy, Jade, Rafael, Jane, and Sarah), his sister Rose Mary, and many friends.

Frank was born on Roosevelt Island on April 24, 1935 to Theresa and Edward Bader. After his childhood in Ozone Park, Queens, he earned his Bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering from Cooper Union, his Master's in Mechanical Engineering from Columbia and his PhD in Engineering Mechanics from New York University's Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences. Frank worked for Bell Labs for many years, during which time his company became first AT&T and then Lucent Technologies. While at Bell labs he invented a palladium alloy which became a widely used substitute for pure gold in electronic connections.

Frank was an ardent conservationist. As president of the Audubon Society in Columbus Ohio, he fought to preserve wetland bird habitat from development and widespread use of DDT. A dedicated birdwatcher and butterfly watcher, Frank traveled the world pursuing his hobby. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the National Audubon Society.

In 1997, our greater community lost --far too soon-- a dedicated and beloved champion of our environment. Nancy B. Stiles, wife of Ted Stiles who is known to many of our members, died suddenly on August 11. Nancy was, perhaps, less visible in our volunteer, nonprofit world than Ted, but that is because she worked in a territory where few of us dare to tread--environmental law. Nancy's hard work and steely resolve, driven by what she knew to be right and just, had secured for her the respect and even the awe of her colleagues. She was indomitable. At the time of her death, Nancy was serving as Deputy Attorney General for the State of New Jersey and her career had not yet crested. Not the least of her accomplishments was her support and encouragement for Ted's work in open space preservation in central New Jersey. We are all beneficiaries of the output of this formidable team.

Under a radiant blue sky on August 24, the finest day of the summer, Nancy's family, friends and coworkers gathered in Washington Crossing State Park to celebrate her life--a truly accomplished one, indeed. To Ted, their two children, and her family, we offer our sincere condolences.

Nancy's good works will live on in many ways. A scholarship fund has been established in her name to support women entering the field of environmental law. Memorial contributions may be made to the Nancy B. Stiles Scholarship Fund, c/o William Mosconi, Rutgers University Foundation, Winants Hall, 7 College Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901.

Lynn Hunt, Avid Birding Member: 19??-2007

Lynn was an avid naturalist who attended many of the WCAS bird walks and programs. He also was active in many other conservation organizations, including the Tuckerton Seaport, Ocean Nature and Conservation Society, The Nature Conservancy, and more. For example, he was the first dues-paying member of the Pinelands Preservation Alliance and an expert birder. His contributions were many, and he will be missed by his friends at Washington Crossing Audubon Society and elsewhere.

Bill Kass, Founding Member: 1917-2002

Bill (William H.) Kass, one of the original members who inaugurated our chapter, died on March 27 following a massive stroke. He is survived by his wife, Alice, and their sons, David and Jeffrey.

In the early years of WCAS, Bill served as Treasurer and carried out much of the business of the chapter. He and Alice handled all aspects of production of our newsletter and hosted the "label-slapping" evenings at their Titusville home, which always ended with tea and cookies by the warmth of their wood-burning stove. Bill was an accomplished woodworker, and we worked at a beautiful black walnut table that he crafted himself. He was also the artist who created our osprey logo, which appears on the front of this newsletter and on our chapter patch. Bill and Alice built their house on a hillside overlooking the natural area of Washington Crossing State Park. They were quite proud when a pair of red-shouldered hawks set up housekeeping themselves on their wooded lot a few years ago.

Bill was devoted to the park's nature center, going back to the days when Rachel Horn had a small animal rehabilitation facility there. Even as the center grew and changed, Bill-often with his young sons in tow-tended the bird feeders there in all kinds of weather. So it seemed natural to the WCAS board of trustees that providing for the birds at the park would be a fitting way to remember and celebrate Bill's life. We will be planting a native, fruit-bearing shrub near the nature center which will continue his tradition of providing nourishment for our feathered friends.

winterberry holly (Ilex verticillata)

Memorial Planting in Honor of Bill Kass Pat Sziber

Two winterberry hollies (Ilex verticillata) were planted near the Nature Center at Washington Crossing State Park on April 25 in honor of charter board member Bill Kass who died in March 2002. The species was chosen because it is a native plant that bears fruit attractive to birds and other wildlife and is deer-resistant. Deer browse is an enormous problem at the park and it has been noticed that they avoid the naturally-growing winterberries. Our two shrubs are located at the south-facing wood line near the entrance to the Nature Center. When mature, these deciduous hollies will bear bright red berries in the fall. The cultivar was developed at Rutgers University for concurrent blossoms on both the male and female plants to maximize fruiting. Individual WCAS board members funded the planting. David Paulovic assisted with the selection at Kale's Nursery and provided planting instructions.

We decided that a planting at the park to benefit birds would be an appropriate way to honor his memory. Bill was devoted to the Nature Center and kept the park's bird feeders filled and clean. The hollies will continue his tradition of providing nourishment for our feathered friends. Since the park does not allow plaques in the natural area, a framed memorial certificate will be provided to the Nature Center.

Photo Source: www.hort.uconn.edu/plants/i/ilever/ilever1.html