I just learned that Dave Stemple has died. Wish Non Birding Bill and I live a few blocks from his son Adam, and I'll never forget the first time we met at Mr. Neil's and Adam came up to me and told me that since I was into birds that I should meet his father who was an expert in the songs of ring ouzels--boy did he have me pegged or what?

There is a touching note at Jane Yolen's site, Dave's wife. They are such a warm, funny and talented family, Dave an ornithologist, Adam, a singer/songwriter and now author and many are familiar with Jane's writing. I remember last fall when we were all at World Fantasy Convention and Jane saying how excited Dave was to be able to do the Christmas Bird Count even with his illness, that it really kept him going.

I'm so sorry for their loss and sorry that I never got the chance to help Dave further in his work.