Re: [cobirds] Joe Roller sad news

A huge loss for our birding community. I'm so sorry to hear this. 

Bob reminded me about the first time we met Joe. 

We were upstream from Kingfisher Bridge chasing a rare warbler in a thicket. I wish our memories could recall for sure, but our records indicate it could have been a Northern Parula, September 1991. 

After a long unsuccessful search we were surprised when Joe popped up from the other side of the thicket searching for the same bird. He was in his blue hospital scrubs, face mask and all. Probably had just ducked out of a surgery as soon as he could.

It was somewhat of a humorous way to meet someone.

He related to birders of all levels. That was his gift for us. 

RIP Joe Roller.

Lea Ann Brown, Bob Brown

Highlands Ranch

On Nov 25, 2020, at 3:45 PM, Larry Modesitt <larry.corvid@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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