In Memoriam: Les Mehrhoff, Card-Carrying Naturalist

Submitted by gmri on Tue, 2010-12-28 20:39
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    Vital Signs lost a dear friend and invaluable colleague over the holidays. Les Mehrhoff, passionate naturalist, co-founder of the Invasive Plant Atlas of New England, champion of Vital Signs, and the Vital Signs species expert for numerous invasive and native species, died suddenly on December 22, 2010.

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Les epitomized what Vital Signs seeks to cultivate: insatiable curiosity and joy in discovery, generous knowledge, encouraging and enthusiastic teaching, rigor in scientific practice, and enjoyment and appreciation of the natural world. He was the first, and so far the only, scientist we have featured on our home page. He was always ready to share a laugh and refused to take science too seriously. When we asked him for a picture to go along with his feature, he sent us a picture of himself in horns!

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Les worked generously to bring Vital Signs national recognition. He arranged for me to speak at meetings and conferences and introduced me to his colleagues. His enthusiasm for Vital Signs was moving, galvanizing, and inspiring as we worked to get our program off the ground. Even as we are forced to find others to fill in as species expert in his stead, his place in the Vital Signs community will never be truly filled. I will sorely miss his humor, wit, energy, and enthusiasm. My heart goes out to his family, friends, and colleagues.

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Sarah Kirn

Comments

Submitted by gbh on Thu, 2011-01-06 11:46.

In memory of Les

Les's daughter and wife have given his friends and colleagues some guidance to those who want to do something in his memory. In their words, "In memory of Les, please perform an act of kindness for the preservation of our environment."

It seems a very fitting tribute to a man who was characteristically kind and committed to the health of our natural environments.