Mickey Maxwell Cohen, 1927-2021

The Linnaean Society of New York fondly remembers legendary local naturalist and educator Mickey Maxwell Cohen, who received the Society’s Natural History Award in 2012. He passed away at the end of December at the age of 94. Mickey was an educator, a naturalist, an environmentalist, a civil rights activist, and an intellectual, in addition to being expert in antique restoration, ornithology, marine life, and foraging wild foods. 

Mickey was instrumental in the concept design for Beach Channel High School—a NYC high school on the shores of Jamaica Bay in Queens, NY, that was intended to integrate marine studies into every subject taught. He served as assistant principal and chair of science and oceanography, and throughout his career received numerous scientific and teaching awards.

He also served as chief scientist and much-loved naturalist for the Littoral Society in New York. For over 40 years, Mickey and Don Riepe, a long-term member of the Linnaean Society of New York, led natural history trips for the Littoral Society to places near and far, including Montauk, Chincoteague, Costa Rica, Africa, Cape Ann, the Galapagos, and one of his favorite local haunts, Dead Horse Bay in Jamaica Bay. His favorite place of all was perhaps the Galapagos Islands, which he visited over 20 times. He was always willing to share his wide knowledge with everyone. 

His love of nature and natural history has inspired several generations to follow in his footsteps by becoming outdoor enthusiasts, environmental protectors, and nature lovers. He will be greatly missed by many people.

— Don Riepe and Ruth Hart

Jean Blair, January 2021

Long time Linnaean Society of New York member Jean Blair died this past January in her native England. She resided in Manhattan and worked for the United Nations for many years until her retirement in 1988, whereupon she returned to her family home in Uckfield. I first met Jean back in 1977 and we struck up a friendship that lasted for decades. I found her to be a charming person, with a sense of humor about what was going on in our lives. I will never forget her delight when a roosting nightjar sitting low on a branch in the Central Park Ramble turned out to be her life Eastern Whip-poor-will, and not, as first thought, a Chuck-will’s-widow, a species she had previously seen. She literally grabbed me in her excitement. 

I paid her a visit when we visited England back in the fall of 1996. I will never forget her kindness in showing us her quaint cottage, where her mother had taught private students. The weather had turned chilly, and Jean had her gardener cover her flowers so that they would not wither overnight in the low temperatures. She took us to a lovely, old-fashioned shop for tea and scones; for lunch we dined at a 16th-century inn that specialized in bangers and mash—but the bangers were made fresh across the road! She also showed me my life Marsh Tit.

Every year Jean would make a February/early March visit to New York City, and every year we would have dinner on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, a block or two from where she was staying. We would laugh and talk about the old LSNY days. We only birded once in all those years, and that was a quick day trip to Central Park to look for the Varied Thrush (which we unfortunately did not find). 

I was in England in April 2019 and rang her up to ask if I could take the train down to see her once more, as she hadn’t been able to fly to New York for her annual visit for a couple of years. She was not up to it, so I had to be content with talking on the phone.

The last time I spoke with Jean was in early September of 2020. She had had some physical problems necessitating a rather long hospitalization in the spring of 2020. However, when she picked up the phone in September, she told me that I “couldn’t have picked a better time to call her.” When I rang off I had no idea it would be the last time I heard her voice.

One species that had always eluded Jean and which she often talked about was the American Bittern. She never did see it.

Well, my dear Jean, I regret that I never was able to show you that American Bittern. I will miss you.

—Richard ZainEldeen

David Burg, 1950-2020

David Burg, New York naturalist and conservationist, died suddenly on July 11, 2020, while doing what he loved best—enjoying a day out in one of New York’s natural areas. 

David had a way of quickly befriending people he’d just met. As one who struggles with shyness, I was always amazed by his ease at starting conversations with strangers. But his conversations were not just idle chit-chat. He really got to know people. He knew how to draw out their interests and was always fascinated by their stories. He was a mentor who taught so many to appreciate the beauty and importance of the natural world. David was a family man. He cared deeply for his family and for all of us who were lucky enough to belong to his “adopted” family. To see the influence he had on people’s lives, one need only look at his Facebook page and read the incredible number of tributes written by friends, family, and even people he had never met in person but knew from Facebook conversations.

David formed his non-profit, WildMetro to fight for the preservation of the nature around us, never an easy task. Despite the difficulties, he always managed to remain positive, continually teaching and fighting. His knowledge, curiosity, and incessant defense of nature inspired and continues to inspire so many of us. He was generous with his knowledge and his time, never thinking twice about driving out of his way to pick up people who needed a ride, just to make sure they were able to join a nature walk. He knew all the local natural areas intimately and was eager to share them with anyone willing to take a walk with him. He led regular New Year’s Day walks and especially enjoyed leading the yearly Superb Owl Walk (for those of us who are not football fans). It was on these walks that some of us got to see nesting owls in New York for the first time!

David considered himself a birder first but was interested in all of nature. He had a special affinity for trees, especially the radiant field-grown oaks he was so fond of showing off to all of us. He was a naturalist, something that has become increasingly rare. And this world needs more naturalists. Thankfully, the young men and women he mentored are now excellent naturalists themselves, continuing the work of conservation and teaching. 

If you read the posts regarding the loss of David, you will notice one theme throughout: we all feel our time spent with him was not enough. We all want one more walk in nature with David. New York has lost a nature champion and we have all lost a dear friend.

– Regina Alvarez

Herbert A. Thompson, 2019

Herbert A. Thompson passed away on New Year’s Day 2019 at the age of 67.  Although not a member of the Linnaean Society of NY, he was known by many within the Society.  Birding became a lifelong passion for Herb when he was in his forties. He was a life member of New Jersey Audubon and an active member of the Ralph T. Waterman Bird Club in Dutchess County. Also a member of the New York State Ornithological Association, he helped establish its New York State Young Birders Club in 2008, and served  as co-chair for many years, mentoring teen birders on monthly field trips and guiding them as they competed in NJ Audubon’s World Series of Birding.  He will be greatly missed by family, friends, and the birding community.

Joyce Hyon, 1937-2018

Joyce Hyon was like a mentor to me. She introduced me to the world of plants. I once found a species of gentian at Stuyvesant Cove with my Newcomb book.  Joyce was interested and from my drawing thought it was worth investigating.  It might be Sabatia deformis. She visited the Cove with a very advanced book, but alas it was a common gentian species. Her next project was to identify the wild flowers of Stuyvesant Town and Cove. Three of us participated in this educational adventure.  I learned from this experience the importance of detail in identifying plants. I was inspired. Because of Joyce I was able to (with participation of others I assume) prevent the application of very toxic herbicides, which also included an additional chemical to cover the toxic odor of the herbicides. This spring I walked the interior of the project and identified all the “weeds”.  I saw that there was no explosion of these plants. I wrote a comprehensive letter to the management. The management was supportive. I noticed that the weeds, such as Galansoga and others were manually removed. I am so grateful to Joyce for expanding my appreciation of nature.  I miss her. — by Anne Lazarus

Whenever someone would come up to me in Central Park and ask me to identify a flower or shrub or tree, my automatic reply would be “Go ask Joyce.” Beneath Joyce Hyon’s quiet demeanor lurked an extensive knowledge of flora of all types. Not only could she make a positive identification of a particular flower, she would go on to explain why it was that species and not something else. And Joyce was always willing to share her knowledge. She will be missed. — by Richard Zaineldeen

Joyce Hyon was a member of The Linnaean Society of New York from 1992 to 2017.