Bob Reimer's passing
Sad news as Bob passed away in Canada - I have posted two emails here the first from his wife Barb and the second from Brigette Howarth with the Al Ain Natural History Group.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By now, many of you have already heard this news through one avenue or another. I wanted to be the first one to tell you all, but information travels fast, and I just couldn't catch up with it this time.
Bob passed away quietly here at "home" in Markham just before 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday. To the end, he was brave and strong, but the body just could not handle the demands of living any longer. His brother, David, and I were with him as he took his last, quiet breath and drifted away. A service to celebrate Bob's amazing life will be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday, January 28th, 2012 at Markham Baptist Church, 110 Church St., Markham, Ontario.
In lieu of flowers, we would appreciate donations to organizations that supported and helped Bob so much in his fight against melanoma. The International Cancer Advocacy Network (ICAN) in Phoenix, Arizona, was phenomenal in constant support, advice, connections and tenacity. Their website is www.askican.org. All donations given in Bob's name will be earmarked for the establishment of a Robert W. Reimer Biomarkers Center, to continue the research for genetic answers to melanoma. There are discussions underway to see if this can be made an international effort. If tax receipts are desired, donations can be made either to Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto, where so many medical personnel worked hard to give Bob some extra weeks with me or to Evergreen Hospice of Markham - Stouffville who were wonderful in providing emotional and practical support. Their website iswww.evergreenhospice.org. If you have a particular charity that you would prefer to support, we welcome that, as well.
For all that you have done for us in the past several months as we went through this struggle, I can only say once again how much your constant support and encouragement meant to us. It held us up when it would have been so easy to fall. Your arms of support and prayers were what kept us strong.
Thank you.
Barb
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear All,
It is with great sadness that I pass on the sad news that our friend and colleague Bob passed away on Wednesday afternoon.
Many of you would have had an opportunity at some point to spend time in the field with Bob and would have experienced his enthusiasm and knowledge in many areas of natural history and photography, and in particular his knowledge of the Odonata (Dragonflies and Damselflies). Bob was an active Committee member of the Al Ain Chapter of the ENHG, and was involved in many projects. Some of the results of his photography and research have been published in text or photographic form in a variety of publications, listed below, and also shared at international conferences, and via many online forums.
Bob also took on various roles as an ENHG Committee member such as Vice Chair, Photography Coordinator, Website Administrator, and helped in the curation of our Joint Al Ain and Abu Dhabi Entomological collection, as well as participating in a variety of Outreach activities. He presented excellent talks to the Al Ain ENHG, Abu Dhabi ENHG and Dubai Chapter (DNHG), and lead many a field trip. Bob became an authority on the Odonata and was thrilled to be asked to become Secretary of the Worldwide Dragonfly Association last year. A highlight of his explorations into entomology was his discovery of a midge riding on the wings of dragonflies and damselflies, with the midge being a new scientific discovery. Bob documented this discovery and his manuscript will shortly be published.
There were many facets to Bob; he viewed the world from an eclectic stand point and had many interests and skills beyond those associated with natural history. His computing skills were exceptional, and his drive for becoming intricately familiar with whatever project he was working on meant that within a short time Bob would get a handle on and master just about everything he turned his mind to. We will all miss a dear friend but are fortunate to have many memories of many happy moments. Our thoughts are with his wife Barb, their son Aaron, and all of Bob's family as everyone comes to terms with this sad loss. Many of you know Barb and may wish to write to her personally. We will also collate thoughts to celebrate Bob's life via our remembrance email and so if you would like to share thoughts or stories, you can send an email to
remembrance@enhg.org
Regards,
Brigitte
Bob's publications:
Reimer, R.W. , Havelka, P. & Martens, A. A new Oman Forcipomyia (Diptera: Nematocera: Ceratopogonidae) from the wings of Odonata. In prep.
Campbell, O.J. and Reimer, R.W. 2011. An influx of Sympetrum fonscolombii Selys in the United Arab Emirates. Agrion 15.1: 20-21.
Reimer, R.W. 2011. Tramea basilaris (Beauvais, 1817) new to UAE. Agrion 15.1: 22-23.
Reimer, R.W., Feulner, G.R. and Hornby, R.J. 2009. Errata and Addenda: Updated Illustrated Checklist of Dragonflies of the UAE – including a third species of Ischnura damselfly. Tribulus 18: 28-36.
Reimer, R.W. 2008. An extraordinary confluence of events in the study of UAE and Oman Odonata. Agrion 12.2: 55
Feulner, G.R., Reimer, R.W. and Hornby, R.J. 2007. Updated and Illustrated Checklist of Dragonflies of the UAE. Tribulus 17: 37-62.
Contributing Photographer, Terrestrial Environment of Abu Dhabi Emirate, 2008, Environmental Agency – Abu Dhabi.
Contributing Photographer, The Emirates - A Natural History, December 2005, Trident Press, ISBN 1-905486-02-2.
Contributing Photographer, Jebel Hafit, A Natural History, 2004, Emirates Natural History Group sponsored by the Abu Dhabi Company for Onshore Oil Operations, ISBN 9948-03-143-1.
Dave Clark
Al Ain - 248 species (Marbled Duck)
UAE - 328 species (Black-naped Oriole)
Reply With Quote
