Subject: [Tweeters] Paul DeBenedictis, 1942-2006
Date: May 25 11:23:28 2006
From: Wayne C. Weber - contopus at telus.net


Birders,

Paul DeBenedictis, one of North America's best-known ornithologists
and birders, passed away recently. The message below from David Irons of
Eugene, OR summarizes some of his contributions to the birding
community, and is followed by the obituary from the "Contra Costa Times"
newspaper.

Wayne C. Weber
Delta, BC
contopus at telus.net



----- Original Message -----
From: "DAVID IRONS" <llsdirons at msn.com>
To: <obol at lists.oregonstate.edu>
Sent: Thursday, May 25, 2006 1:19 AM
Subject: [obol] Paul DeBenedictis' passing


The name in the subject line is probably meaningless to many of you, but to
those of us a little longer in the tooth, Paul DeBenedictis will be
remembered as a major player in the birding world. I never met this man,
but during the late 70's and through most of the 1980's I always looked
forward to his writings about birds. During this period he had a regular
column in BIRDING called "Gleanings from Technical Literature." In this
column he often tackled complex studies in taxonomy digesting the dense
and for all intents and purposes unreadable writings of professional
laboratory
ornithologists, synopsizing the gist of their ideas into a column that we of
lesser intellect might understand. "Gleanings..." was without question some
of the most stimulating, enlightening and well-written material that has
ever appeared in BIRDING. I remembered being quite saddened when it
disappeared from the magazine many years ago. During its run this was the
first thing I read any time a new BIRDING showed up in my mailbox. On
several occasions DeBenedictis authored the "Changing Seasons" column
in what is now NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS (formerly AMERICAN BIRDS
etc.). Those columns were equally thought-provoking.


Dave Irons
Eugene, OR

****************************************************************************
*******

Obituary from the Contra Costa Times, Walnut Creek, CA


Paul A. DeBenedictis Nov. 8, 1942 - May 3, 2006, Former Resident of Berkeley

Paul A. DeBenedictis, 63, of Syracuse, NY, loving father, husband, and
brother, died Wednesday, May 3 at Crouse Hospital. Paul, the oldest of 6
children, grew up in the San Francisco Bay area, where childhood
explorations of local parks inspired a lifelong love of nature and the
outdoors. Paul, a great intellect, received his Bachelor's degree from the
University of California, Berkeley in 1964, where he participated on a
zoological research expedition to the Galapagos islands, and was inducted
into the Phi Beta Kappa honor society. He then earned a Ph.D. in Zoology &
Ecology from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor MI in 1969, where he
was inducted as a member of Gamma Alpha graduate honor society. It was in
Ann Arbor where he met and married his loving wife of 38 years, Virginia
(Morzenti). Paul and Virginia then relocated to Syracuse, NY in 1970, where
he was a professor in the Biology department at Syracuse University. He
became interested in and highly proficient with computers. In 1979 he moved
to SUNY Upstate Medical University, where he became manager of academic
computing services. In 1993 he was recognized for his outstanding service to
the University and the community it serves. In 1996, while at Upstate
Medical University, he suffered cardiac arrest with subsequent brain injury,
rendering him disabled. Despite his handicap, Paul continued to enjoy his
family, the outdoors, performing arts, and travel with his wife. Paul was an
exemplary father to his children. Tim, 34, is currently Director of Software
Engineering at World Energy Labs in San Francisco, CA, and Lisa, 31, is a
resident physician in Internal Medicine in Ann Arbor, MI. Paul's love of
knowledge, love of nature, and love of family will be a lasting legacy for
his two children. Paul was an avid and accomplished birdwatcher and
contributed greatly to the birding world. He served on the Audubon Society
board of directors, and as editor for The Kingbird, its quarterly journal.
In 1997, he was awarded the Elon Howard Eaton Memorial Award by the
Federation of New York State Bird Clubs for his many contributions to the
study of avian biology in New York state. Surviving are his wife, Virginia,
of Syracuse, NY; son, Tim, of El Cerrito, CA; daughter and son-in-law, Lisa
and Timothy Nelson of Ann Arbor, MI; four brothers; Tony of Davis, CA; Bruce
(Caroline) of Oakland, CA; Dean (Gilda) of San Antonio, TX; Alan (Donna) of
Spring, TX; a sister, Mary of El Sobrante, CA; and many sisters- and
brothers- in-law, nieces, and nephews. A memorial celebration of Paul's life
will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, May 27, 2006 at the May Memorial
Unitarian Universalist Society, 3800 E. Genesee St., Dewitt, NY 13214. The
family invites guests to stay for refreshments at an informal gathering
after the celebration. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to: The
Nature Conservancy, 4245 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 100, Arlington, VA 22203;
or to The National Audubon Society, Department W, 700 Broadway, New York, NY
10003; or to the charity of your choice.