I did not know David as well as many of you as he always lived in a
different part of the state than I typically birded. We had many a phone
conversations. It is fair to say that we were both stubborn and sometimes
we could get real ticked off with each other over TOS matters, ( I
especially remember one board meeting ) and certainly over publications,
but his heart was always in the interest of promoting TOS, bird
conservation and that right place.. I had not seen David except for two
brief encounters since his presidency due to his distant addresses mostly.
I was completely unaware that he had any health issues until his passing.
Fly high David!
**********************************************************************
Brush Freeman
503-551-5150 Cell
120 N. Red Bud Trail. Elgin, Tx. 78621
http://texasnaturenotes.blogspot.com/
Finca Alacranes., Utley,Texas
On Fri, Jul 10, 2015 at 11:17 AM, David Sarkozi <david@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
David was my friend, my guide, and my mentor in birding and TOS. I
spent a lot of time with David and learned so much from him. I was hit
very hard when Jan called me to tell me of David's passing yesterday.
David knew so many people. I heard stories of secret birding
adventures with famous people, Fittingly I heard one of those people
interviewed on NPR yesterday not long after I heard the news.
I recall sitting in a board meeting at the Friends of Anahuac Refuge
once when we started the butterfly garden. We were discussing sources
for donations. He casually mentioned that he had called Ladybird the
night before and that she was in for a donation. It took me a moment
to realize he was talking about THAT Ladybird, Ladybird Johnson. He
not only knew her, he had her home phone number!
Fred mentioned his owl calling. It was always amazing to watch. I was
doing the birding classic with him once at Salenino and he called up a
great horned owl. Great I said, but we can't count it because its
calling in Mexico, and the rules say it has to be in Texas. So he then
calls it across the river so we could count hit. Another year we
needed Brown Jay so because Brown Jays mob owls he called up a Great
Horned at the Santa Margarita Ranch Bluffs. it was hooting away and 4
jays appeared from nowhere to mob it. I think we were the only time to
Brown Jay that year.
I learned to call Barred Owls from him. When they were slow to respond
he always said it was because they were laughing too hard at my call
to call back.
David had a passion for preserving habitat. It was under his watch as
TOS president that Sabine Woods was paid off, and Crawford and Hooks
Woods were created. He was there for the creation of McFaddin NWR, He
did many of the surveys of Brazos Bend before it opened to the public,
and worked with the Valley Land Fund when he moved to the RGV.
I can think of no more fitting memorial than to establish a TOS
Endowment for the TOS Sanctuaries in his name. I have sent that
proposal to the TOS Board and am hopeful the TOS membership and the
Board support this idea.
On Fri, Jul 10, 2015 at 9:35 AM, Collins, Fred (Commissioner Pct. 3)
<FCollins@xxxxxxxx> wrote:
I have known David longer than I can remember. He was bigger than life.Warm. Friendly, but boy could you get him riled up if you tried. You could
have more fun with David in an hour of birding than most can provide in a
full day. In the 70s, he was our "go to guy" for getting the owls on the
Cypress Creek Christmas Bird Count. He could sound more like a Barred Owl
than a Barred Owl can. I think that was because he talked to them in his
Baytown backyard for so many years. He would drive all the way in from
Baytown to do owl programs for me when I was at the Nature Discovery Center
in Bellaire. He wowed the crowd every time with his big voice belting out
Barred Owl, as well as other owls. He never failed to follow up that
program by whistling-up a screech-owl for the group in the park. When he
retired from Exxon and moved from Baytown to the Valley I was incredulous.
I asked him how could he leave those Barred Owls?
Obviously he had another chapter to write as a naturalist and his andJan's website is testament to that. I visit the site every time I consider
heading to the Valley to check out spots that are new to me or sites I have
not visited in recent years. Sadly I have done a poor job of keeping up
with my old friend. I sent him an e-mail the day he died, asking how he was
doing since I had not seen him post lately. At least I know he is doing
well now, breathing deeply of heaven's fresh air.
you gone. But we are richer for having known you.
Rest in peace my friend. Texas' wide open spaces are a bit emptier with
permission
Fred Collins, Director
Kleb Woods Nature Center
20303 Draper Road,Tomball TX 77377
281-357-5324
Harris County Precinct 3
Steve Radack Commissioner
www.pct3.hctx.net<http://www.pct3.hctx.net/>
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David Sarkozi
Houston, TX
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