Bruce Parfitt Acknowledged in 'Michigan Flora' publication of University of Michigan Herbarium

The definitive "Michigan Flora" three-volume set by Edward G. Voss published from 1972-1996 was revised in February 2011 via a University of Michigan Herbarium website.

This significant revision acknowledges the contributions of "the late Bruce Parfitt and his students, especially Joshua Springer" for their contributions from Lapeer and Tuscola Counties.

"Michigan Flora" is resource used, not just to describe Michigan plants, but to inform botany worldwide.

Dear Friends of Bruce,

My thoughts have been with you, especially this month, as we marked one year since his death and the changes that wrought in our lives.

This is just to say that the legacy website, where so many friends and former students contributed their heartfelt thoughts and photos, will expire tomorrow, 19 September 2010. So, if there's anything you want to copy or download please do so now.

If you have any questions, contact me at Dorschner.Cheryl@gmail.com

~CD

p.s. Photo of the Lamoille River "fishing rock" taken with Bruce's favorite camera by Amanda Sheehy on 21 July.

Birth Day

Today, 7 November in 1952, at 9:28 a.m. Bruce Parfitt was born in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Many of his people are thinking of him on this, the day of his birth in the year of his death. He would have been 57. ~CDorschner

p.s. For some "new" old photos added this day, and two posts added this week, visit legacy.

Couple of Links

Bruce's alma mater the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh gave him a one-liner in its alumni magazine just posted on the UWO website.

I confess, I sent them a full Oshkoshian Obituary (as his family never sent one to the newspaper). I urged the editor to do a feature on Bruce as he is a stellar example of someone who was inspired by his mentors, professors emeriti Jack Kasper and Neil Harriman, led to his ultimate career by his UWO study-abroad experience and accomplished far beyond the average UWO grad. ~CDorschner

UWO Biology Professor Emeritus Neil Harriman still keeps an office in Halsey Science Center -- this the origin of Bruce's "biologizing."

FYI: newish posts at the Bruce Parfitt legacy.com site as well.

AND ON THE THIRD DAY...

On a clear blue Thursday morning, September 3, 2009, Bruce Parfitt died. A candle burned at the foot of his bed all that day and into the night, long after the full moon rose in Williston, in Johnson, in Oshkosh, in Davison, in the Arizona desert and in the place where you are.

We have been calling family and friends, taking care of details, ourselves and each other.

It seemed to take most of the day and night to set up a legacy website. Here you will find the details of Bruce's life and a place to leave your thoughts for Bruce's family and friends like you.

Like this blog the legacy site is a growing, changing, group effort.

I know that Bruce gave you all many gifts -- his time, talents, knowledge, handiwork and care.

This photo shows a few of the tangible gifts he left us -- the work of his hands: a kinnickinick beaded deerskin pouch, birch-bark container, sweet fern lampshade, hollowed pine and deer-hide drum and the workbench on which they rest.

Best wishes to all of you,

~CDorschner

Next...

Yesterday afternoon, Josh Springer left for Michigan heading up North Williston Road, disappearing into the curves held by white pine, sugar maple and paper birch. He took the U.S. route so his little PT Cruiser could deliver that case of Boyden Farm, Vermont wine without a hitch.

More to come. Lots more.

I'm working on it.

~CDorschner

Alces alces success via Bruce

Yesterday I posted about heading for a "moose hunt" after completing the bathroom vanity project. Well, the photo to the right shows the result of that drive to somewhere between Eden and Belvidere, Vermont. I conducted the normal ritual that Bruce and I had: drive slowly along the road searching for a dark hump in the marsh or along the edge of Long Pond, turn around at 'three corners' and repeat over and over again until a moose was sighted or darkness fell to the valley floor. Never before on my many trips to this location did I have such a good look at moose, or, for so long! This cow and calf were munching for nearly 30 minutes while a small crowd of silent observers witnessed their grace and beauty while slurping underwater vegetation. Bruce would have been thrilled! While watching them I imagined what our conversation would have been and well, was a bit sad he was unable to come this time.

Today I drove Bruce's neighbor and long-time resident of Johnson to see Bruce. I had offered to drive here there (because she does not like driving in 'the city' any longer). I printed this same photo and left it on Bruce's small bedside table; he slept during our entire visit (he sleeps much of the time now).

Maggie and I had a discussion about life and death today on the long (ish) drive back to Johnson and also discussed teaching and learning. Later I thought about that discussion and thought about how much Bruce has taught me over the almost 7 years I have known him. He showed me my first Moose, showed me the beauty of Vermont, taught me to appreciate and care for nature, and accompanied me on countless birding trips where we saw many 'lifers' together. We traveled from all corners of Michigan to Ohio, Vermont, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine. We had great discussions, we ate lobster along the Atlantic coast, we canoed, we laughed, we debated politics (of which we agreed mostly on everything), we even had the great chance to publish a few things together and one forthcoming article. My next thought was of how could something like that friendship ever be repaid. Answer: It cannot. One should just pass these things along; hopefully I can have students and graduate students who I can pass the story of Bruce on to.

J.C. Springer