Sad News: Bruno J. Falanga

Long time ARS member, Bruno J. Falanga of North Andover, died at 90 on
Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2009, after being ill for many years. Bruno joined the ARS
in 1977 and was very active in the Massachusetts and Cape Cod chapters for many years.

He served on our Board of Directors and was joint chair for the development and
installation of our first Display Garden at the Case Estates. He was very
involved in the two conventions our chapter organized in 1990 and 2000. He used
his experiences with these conventions to write a much-used manual for the ARS
on how to run conventions.

Bruno was a passionate gardener almost all his life, collecting plants from all
over the world. Rhododendrons, azaleas and companion plants were his favorites.
His big garden is basically a collector's garden, containing plants collected
for the past 50 years.

Our condolences to his wife of many years, Natali, and his family.

Sad News: Hank Schannen

Hank Schannen, a longtime contributor and friend of many of us, collapsed and died today. He will be missed by all who love rhododendrons like he did.

Werner Brack

Sad News: Thomas Dodd

Thomas Henry Dodd Jr., a Semmes horticulturist and longtime nursery
operator, died Thursday at Mobile Infirmary. He was 94.

Sad News: Edmund de Rothschild

Edmund de Rothschild died on January 17, 2009 at aged 93.

Sad News: Malcolm Clark

Malcolm Clark died early the morning of Jan 16, 2009.

Malcolm was one of the Azalea Society guiding lights for many years,
having served as our President, and hosting conventions at Morristown
NJ and Hendersonville NC essentially single handedly. He was a
stickler for correct identification of azaleas, and was a hybridizer
and grower at his Chandler Gardens nursery in Southern Pines NC.

Malcolm was interested in azalea research, and had made a significant
gift to the Azalea Society a few years ago to start a research fund.
Gifts may be made in his memory to

ASA Research Fund
6009 Copely Lane
McLean VA 22101-2507

He was my friend, and the azalea world is poorer for his passing.

Regards,
Bob Stelloh Hendersonville NC USDA Zone 7

Sad News: Dave Sauer

David French Sauer died January 12th, 2009 at his home in Chester,
Virginia, near Richmond after a struggle with cancer. His obituary
is in the Richmond Times-Dispatch today.

Many of you will remember David and his love of azaleas and talks
about them. David was a very outgoing and pleasant person and had
many friends.

Sandra McDonald
Hampton, VA

Sad News: Jim Gerdemann

Sad news DR. Jim Gerdemann of the Siuslaw Chapter passed away. The memorial service is Sunday, January 4th, 1 pm at the Overleaf Conference Center in Yachats, Oregon.

Sad News: Bill Zurich

I am saddened to report that Dr. Bill Zurich unexpectedly passed away
this afternoon from a heart attack. Bill was a member of the
Princeton Chapter and had a magnificent 5 acre garden in Toms River,
NJ. He was a true gentleman, loved to show his garden--one of the
best in the East, and his love of rhododendrons was well known. His
garden was the hit of the 2004 convention. We have lost a great
personal friend and a friend of the genus rhododendron.

Hank Schannen

Sad News: Peter Wharton

Sorry to have to let you that Peter Wharton passed away yesterday
morning. As many will know Peter made the Asian Garden at UBC in
Vancouver a world class garden. He was a tireless plant hunter and so
many owe him thanks for the many fine new plants - rhododendrons and
magnolias were special passions - that he introduced into so many
gardens, botanical and private. Peter had recently returned home from
what was to be his last collecting trip to Szechuan and fell ill. A
great loss for the plant world especially at such a young age.

John Weagle
Halifax, NS

Sad News: Frank Arsen

Sad news to report. Frank Arsen passed away Wednesday night, June 25, 2008 at age 93.

Sad News: Ester Dwyer

Audrey Esther Harris Dwyer, 81, passed away peacefully Thursday, May 8, 2008, at the Elizabeth House.

Sad News: Ed Reiley

Sad news to report. Ed Reiley passed away Sunday night, March 16, 2008.

Rhododendrons: DR. G. Vest

DR. G. Vest

"My father, “Dr. G”, was an intellectual force. A respected microbiologist, the FDA would call on his expertise as they considered cases of drug safety. He could identify rhododendron species and hybrids at a glance and give you the lineage for the latter from memory. His recall of voices heard once or twice would astound my sisters and I. When we were teenagers he could recognize Sting or Van Morrison’s voices despite his disdain for Rock and Roll. As for his beloved classical music, his knowledge was encyclopedic."

The Vest

Dr. Richard Gustafson Memorial Bench

Dear Sandwich Club Member,

As most of you already know, Dr. Richard Gustafson, the co-founder of
the ARS Sandwich Club died this past fall. Dick, along with Don
Kellam, was responsible for founding and leading the Sandwich Club now
in its twentieth year. We as Dick's ARS friends would like to honor
his memory by placing an appropriately engraved memorial garden bench
along one of the paths of the Heritage grounds in Sandwich,
Massachusetts. Previously, we have recognized Don's contributions to
the Club with a garden bench at Heritage.

The cost of dedicating a bench to Dick at Heritage is twenty-five
hundred dollars. Already pledges of a third of the amount have been
made and we are now asking for your help. So far the following have
pledged their support: Hank Schannen, John and Donna Delano, Donald
Hyatt, Karel and Betty Bernady, Norman and Jean Beaudry, Bob and Rosa
McWhorter, Peg Van Patten and the Greater Philadelphia Chapter ARS.
It would be wonderful if every member of the Sandwich Club would make
a pledge of $100 for this memorial. We appreciate whatever you can
donate towards our goal. Contributions from ARS Chapters are also
welcome.

We would like to have commitments in place so that the bench could be
purchased, installed and dedicated in May, 2008. If you would like to
pledge support, we ask you to contact me either at the above address.

Sincerely,

Norman Beaudry
Chairman, Sandwich Club

Sad News: Brith Smith

Sad news to report. Brith Smith passed away on Friday night. He had gone into a coma several days prior and died quietly. That's a big loss for our rhododendron community.

Don Smart

Announcement of Death of former member- M. Hazel Johnston

Dear Members of the Rhododendron Society,

It is with great sadness that I inform you of the death of my mother,
M. Hazel Johnston, in Providence on November 5. She and my father,
Raymond Johnston, who died in 2003, received such joy and knowledge
from their association with the society and the members. My mother was
able to remain in their home, surrounded by her beloved gardens, until
the end. I write to you now to thank you for being such a large part
of their lives. If any members are interested in cutting or
air layering any of their plants (including a Best in Show one year),
please feel free to contact me. Our family, unsure of when and to whom
their gardens will pass, would be thrilled to have their plants
flourish and propagate.

With appreciation,

Christine Beehler
Amherst NH
flyoff@verizon.net

Sadder World without Him: Warren Berg

Hank Schannen conveyed the following:

It is with great sorrow that I report the death of Warren Berg on
Wednesday, May 17, 2006. It will be a sadder world without him.

John Perkins