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Rachel Carson Council |
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Remembering Our Friends |
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Mary Pillette Shirley Ann Briggs Dr. William Lijinsky Dr. Robert L. Rudd |
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Mary Pillette We were saddened to learn of the sudden death of Mary Pillette, long-time supporter and friend of the Rachel Carson Council. Mary was a dear and caring woman, concerned about the environment. She was an independent thinker and advocate for social justice, whose gentle presence was a serene influence in the Council office, where in past years she served as a volunteer. We extend our condolences to her children and grandchildren and thank them for designating our organization as a place where contributions might be sent in Mary's memory. |
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In Memorium: Shirley Ann Briggs Executive Director of the |
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On Thursday, Nov. 11, 2004 Shirley Ann Briggs died of cardiopulmonary failure. She was 86 years old. Ms. Briggs, a naturalist, illustrator, writer on environmental subjects, researcher on bird populations, and photographer, was one of the founders and the Executive Director / Secretary of the Rachel Carson Council, Inc. from its inception in 1965 until her retirement in 1992. Briggs graduated from the University of Iowa with a Masters degree in 1940. Among those she studied under was the reknowned artist Grant Wood. She taught briefly at North Dakota State College, but in 1942, after the start of World War II, she moved to the Washington, D.C. area where she was hired as an illustrator at Glenn Martin Co. in Baltimore. Here she illustrated airplane manuals, as she once said, "so that the mechanics would know how to grease a B-26." She later held a variety of positions with the U.S. Department of the Interior, the Smithsonian Institution and the Audubon Naturalist Society. At Interior, she eventually became chief of the graphics section at the Bureau of Reclamation. As a Smithsonian employee one of Ms. Briggs' accomplishments was drawing natural habitat dioramas at the Museum of Natural History. Ms. Briggs was a lifelong member of the Audubon Naturalist Society, went on trips to many naturalist sites, conducted bird counts and edited and illustrated some of its publications. After retiring, she taught a course on U.S. Conservation Philosophy for the U. S. Department of Agriculture's graduate school. In the mid-1940s while working for the Interior Department's U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service she met and formed a life-long friendship with Rachel Carson. She later helped Carson do research for Silent Spring. When Rachel Carson died from cancer in 1964, Shirley Briggs was among those who founded the Rachel Carson Council, Inc., to continue Carson's work of answering questions from the public about pesticide issues and low risk pest control alternatives to the use of toxic chemical pesticides. For nearly three decades, until 1992, Shirley Briggs ran the Rachel Carson Council with minimal staff help. Her talents as artist, writer, naturalist and biologist enabled her to perform most of the Council's work virtually single-handed. She developed an encyclopedic knowledge of pesticides and committed that information to record with the result that the Council's database is perhaps the most comprehensive in this field. With the Council, she co-authored the Basic Guide to Pesticides, which was published in 1992 after many years of research. The testimony she rendered through her writings, publications and in governmental forums as well as in interpersonal discussions have had effect and influence throughout North America and other parts of the world. As a result of her work, Shirley Briggs was awarded the Environmental Protection Agency's Rachel Carson Award for Environmental Education in 1993. And in 1995, she received the University of Iowa's Distinguished Alumni Award. Her contribution to environmental health and nature conservation lives on and forms a fitting memorial to someone who dedicated the second half of her life to continuing Rachel Carson's work. David B. McGrath, President Emeritus |
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We are saddened to inform you of the passing of our dear colleague and long-time advisory Board Member, Dr. William Lijinsky on February 16, 2004. Over the years, Dr. Lijinsky gave us wise advice on a range of issues. These opinions were always carefully considered and very sound. Willie Lijinsky combined the qualities of an exceptionally keen and retentive scientific mind, an immense fund of relevant and useful knowledge and devotion to the goals of Rachel Carson Council along with a warm and friendly personality. His contributions over the years have been enormous. We thought of Willie as the consummate scientist. He will be sorely missed. Willie worked on Rachel Carson Council's Basic Guide to Pesticides (published in 1992), focusing especially on the issue of pesticide carcinogenicity. In the book's acknowledgments its author, Shirley Briggs noted Willie in appreciation for his having given much scientific guidance to the project. Later Willie was part of the planning process for Rachel Carson Council's Conference on Cancer and Pesticides (1996), at which he made a presentation on carcinogenicity of pesticides as determined in laboratory animals. His family is planning to hold a memorial celebration of his life on Saturday, June 12th. His widow, Rosie, designated the Rachel Carson Council as the first charity for memorials in Willie's name. She is also preparing a complete obituary for him which we will post on this website.
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The following Notice appeared in The Washington Post on 2/17/04: LIJINSKY, Dr. WILLIAM On Monday, February 16, 2004, Dr. WILLIAM LIJINSKY. Loving husband of Rosalie Lijinsky (nee Elespuru); beloved father of Sharon Kennedy of Brea, CA and Catherine Lijinsky of Geneva, Switzerland; devoted father-in-law of Keith Kennedy; beloved brother of Michael Lijinsky of Reading, England; beloved brother-in-law of Susan Lijinsky; loving grandfather of Nikki Kennedy; beloved uncle of Martin and David Lijinsky. Funeral services at the Owen Brown Interfaith Center, 7246 Cradlerock Way, Columbia, MD 21045, today, February 17 at 11 a.m. Interment private at the convenience of the family. Please omit flowers. Contributions in his memory may be directed to the Rachel Carson Trust, Silver Spring, MD or the Berkeley School, 306 N. Pomona Ave., Fullerton, CA 92832. Arrangements by SOL LEVINSON AND BROS., INC. |
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Dr. Robert L. Rudd
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| We are deeply saddened to hear of the death of one of the greats in scientific pesticide research and
related matters, Dr. Robert L. Rudd. Dr. Rudd was an emeritus professor of zoology at the University of California at Davis and a member of the RCC Advisory Board from our inception in 1965, a position he held continuously until his death. Dr. Rudd was the author of many articles on pesticides and of the book, Pesticides and the Living Landscape, described in May 1964 by Clarence Cottam as, "...the best and most complete survey of the controversial pesticide field yet undertaken. The finest summary of the known facts about pesticides and their effects yet written. In clarity of writing, although of a different style, Rudd approaches Aldo Leopold, Charles Elton or Rachel Carson. The book is timely and much needed and can be read by the layman as well as by the scientist." His family has kindly suggested that remembrances be sent as donations to the Rachel Carson Council, Inc., adding, "he cherished his association with your organization." We thank his daughters Millicent Guiliani and Melanie Ferrando for their consideration and extend to them our deep sympathies for their loss. |
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We received this obituary from Dr. Rudd's family: Robert L. Rudd, Ph.D. Robert L. Rudd, 82, died on November 4, 2003 in Stockton, California. Born in Los Angeles, California on September 18, 1921 he grew up in Salinas Valley. After completing his undergraduate studies at the University of California at Berkeley, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps on April 15, 1944. He served as a B24 pilot and flew numerous missions in the Pacific Theater as a First Lieutenant in the 23rd Bombardment Squadron 5th Bombardment Group. He was awarded the Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Asiatic Pacific Service Medal and the Philippine Liberation Ribbon with one bronze star. When the war ended, he returned to Berkeley and obtained his Ph.D. in Zoology. He obtained a teaching position at the University of California at Davis in 1951 where he worked as a Professor of Zoology until his retirement in 1986. He was the author of many scientific publications arising from his research on the effects of DDT on birds and on his studies of the mammals found in the rain forests in Malaysia, Costa Rica and New Guinea. He was preceded in death by his wife of 55 years, Betty. He leaves two daughters, Melanie Ferrando of Davis and Millicent Guiliani of Stockton as well as two grandchildren, Tony and Will Guiliani. Dr. Rudd will be interred at Davis Cemetery. No formal service is planned. Remembrance donations may be sent to the Rachel Carson Council, Inc., P.O. Box 10779, Silver Spring, MD 20914. |
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