VA Birders,
With great sadness, I must report that Bill Cross, a member of the Board
of Directors of our Northern Virginia Bird Club (NVBC), died suddenly on
Sunday, August 8. He apparently died of a heart attack early that morning
while he
was asleep; he was not known to have had any previous heart problems. Bill
was 61.
Bill was a civil engineer, and he became active in our bird club after
his retirement from the Federal Government in 1998. Along with several other
local birders, we birded together often at Fort C. F. Smith Park here in
Arlington Co. When we decided to apply for an Arlington Co. Small Parks Grant
to put
in a Bird Stream at Fort Smith Park, I asked Bill to serve on our committee
(which I chaired). Bill came up with the design and drew the plans that were
submitted with our application. He said that wasn't really his field, but he
knew that water flows downhill! Our application was approved, and the Bird
Stream was completed, using Bill's design, and opened for business in late
April
2003. More than 50 species of birds were recorded there in 2003, and several
more have been added this year. Bill also helped with the maintenance of the
Bird Stream. In addition, he was a volunteer at Potomac Overlook Regional
Park, also in Arlington.
Bill attended several of our weekend trips, and he loved to camp on our
spring Chincoteague weekend, where he was able to invite us into his campground
to see the Yellow-crowned Night-Herons nesting in the pine trees near his
campsite. Bill also led NVBC trips to Fort Smith and other local parks. He
will
be greatly missed.
Bill is survived by his teenage daughter, Amanda Cross, and his sister
and brother-in-law, Diane and Mike LaVersa. (A Death Notice was printed in the
Washington Post on Thursday, August 12.) Expressions of sympathy may be sent
to them at the following addresses:
Amanda Cross Diane & Mike LaVersa
8601 Aponi Road 5774 Governor's Pond Circle
Vienna, VA 22180 Alexandria, VA 22310
In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to:
The Nature Conservancy of Virginia
490 Westfield Road
Charlottesville, VA 22901
or
Potomac Overlook Regional Park
2845 N. Marcey Road
Arlington, VA 22207
Please be sure to state that your donation is made in memory of Bill Cross.
A memorial service for Bill will be held later this fall. I will report
the date, time, and place when they are announced.
Val Kitchens
Arlington, VA
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