Bob Spencer was the first birder I ever met. I started birding in a
vacuum first in Colorado, then in Chicago where I went to college.
Returning home to Colorado, I started birding in Golden, and the nearby
Wheat Ridge Greenbelt. I started finding some good birds, and wanted to
share them with whomever might have been interested. I joined Denver
Field Ornithologists. I found out about Bob through the archaic rare
bird telephone tree in 1979. Bob called me about a Palm Warbler in his
yard east of Golden, and a friendship was born. We did countless local
and more distant trips together. We carpooled together to DFO meetings,
picking up Ruth Wheeler and Freda Krolik on our way once a month. We
spoke of the hybrid birder he named "Jack Holt". Great times and great
memories.
I can give Bob no greater tribute than saying he was like a second
father to me.
Duane Nelson
Las Animas, Bent County CO
On 5/14/2020 8:23 AM, DAVID A LEATHERMAN wrote:
Like everyone who knew Bob Spencer, I was sad to hear of his passing.
Anyone who has done or witnessed up close lengthy care-giving by one
human for another should have deep admiration for the role of Robert,
Jr. over the last many years. The collective laughter and groans Bob
was responsible for would drown out the cranes in Grand Island, NE.
It think it was the 1990s up at the observation point on Hamilton
Reservoir when a bunch of us were quietly scoping the water in hopes
of spotting a constantly diving, true to its alternative name,
Yellow-billed Diver. No noise except for the shuffling of feet and
cold breathing. Then up rises a squeaky sing-song ditty, "Out in the
boonies, lookin' for some loonies". Guess who? Those sharing Bob's
current existence are probably giving him distance, but I bet they're
smiling. I am glad Colorado bird groups honored Bob with various
awards before we lost him.
Dave Leatherman
Fort Collins
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