I was fortunate to meet Joe back in 2015ish, when he took an interest in birds I was reporting around Cheesman Park in Denver. Ever the county lister, he was and remained. I think it was a Red Crossbill flock that drew him north to Cheesman from the Wash Park area.
I was glad to meet him, for reasons others have given: his knowledge of birds, birding, and Colorado birders; his commitment to DFO (and eBird!); his sense of humor; and his openness to non-birders. On that final point: Joe joined a group of local birders and me for a Centennial-area winter bird count a few years ago, but we'd frequently lose him to his conversations with passerby about birds and DFO. He usually had a stash of DFO business cards on him, and he'd give them to anyone who'd ask him what he was looking at.
This year began for me with owling for the urban Denver CBC along the High Line Canal. A Great Horned Owl was, as it often is, my first bird of the year. Joe joined me around 7:30, making him the first person (and one of only a few) I would bird with in 2020. In truth, he was the first person I'd have a conversation with, too, as I left my house long before my wife would wake that morning.
About 20 minutes before Joe arrived, I'd spotted a Merlin with prey. He badly wanted to see it, so we backtracked. I was relieved to find it on the same perch, gripping still its prey. Feathers still drifted down. We inspected some that now covered the High Line Canal Trail and were able to identify the Merlin's kill as a Dark-eyed Junco. (I believe Joe took some photos of that feather, as I can't find them on my own phone; I believe it was the white-edged tail feathers that gave the prey away.)
Our list was fairly ordinary that day, but the encounter with the Merlin memorable. More than that, I'm just so grateful to have had an opportunity to bird with Joe this year. Colorado birding won't be the same without him.
- Jared Del Rosso
Centennial, CO
On Wednesday, November 25, 2020 at 7:13:35 PM UTC-7 Mark wrote:
I'm extremely sad to hear the news about Joe. There are people in your life, career, and this case hobby that have a huge impact. Joe taught me to enjoy the hobby with laughter. He was the first to recognize and thank the person who found a great bird. When he came to my house and thanked me for the Anna's he reminded me how lucky I was to have the ladies in my life. He was truly a family guy!!!! Joe will truly be missed!!!!Mark ChavezSent from my aughtiPhoneOn Nov 25, 2020, at 4:18 PM, David Tønnessen <davidto...@gmail.com> wrote:I didn't know Joe personally but it sounds like the birding community and world lost a great human. I've recieved numerous emails from him (as a regional hotspot editor for eBird) about new hotspot suggestions usually with encouraging words of affirmation, and he was always most helpful with clarifying hotspot qualifications or suggestions for alternative names.My condolences to his family.David TonnessenColorado Springs, COCU Boulder Student--On Wed, Nov 25, 2020, 4:00 PM Diane Roberts <samat...@gmail.com> wrote:Joe loved his birding stories and remembered a great deal of Colorado County firsts. His devotion to his wife, Maryanne, was heartwarming. I will miss his help & love of birding. RIP Joe.Diane RobertsHighlands Ranch, CO--On Wed, Nov 25, 2020 at 3:52 PM linda hodges <hiker...@gmail.com> wrote:How heartbreaking; I had no idea he was ill.Larry, you summed up Joe so well. He was always ready with a helping hand, diplomatic response or "teachable moment". His laughter and sense of humor will stay with me a very long while.Linda HodgesColorado Springs--On Wed, Nov 25, 2020 at 3:48 PM Gary Brower <grb...@gmail.com> wrote:This is very sad.--I never met Joe, but I received numerous emails from him on questions I'd raised on CO Birds. Always gracious.Gary BrowerUnincorporated Arapahoe CountyOn Nov 25, 2020, at 3:45 PM, Larry Modesitt <larry....@gmail.com> wrote:Cobirders,
The very sad news is that Joe died last night of cancer just after midnight. His wife Maryanne said that despite his pain, he was still cracking jokes with the nurses yesterday morning. "He made me laugh every single day," she said. Either one of their boys, Dan and Tom, was always able to be with him for the past month.
I was out running with my dog when Joe corralled us decades ago. That's how I became one of many people Joe introduced to birding. That led to us birding together all over Colorado and the world. Joe's love of teaching folks about birds, almost always with a humorous insight, continued through his illness. He was a valuable contributor to Denver Field Ornithologists, Bird Conservancy of the Rockies, Colorado Field Ornithologists, and the medical community. There has never been anyone like Joe Roller, and he will be missed greatly.
We can believe that last night just after midnight, St. Peter laughed harder than he had all year.
Larry Modesitt
Arvada
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Diane Roberts--
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