Don Stokes
The Raven that flew over me
10/7/25 – On a good looking October day, after a harvest-full-moon-Nice-Horned-Owls-calling night time, my beloved husband, Don, age 78, died, then a Raven flew over my head.
After an extended 9-year decline, Don died of Lewy Physique Dementia in a dementia facility he had been in for 3 plus years. I used to be with him within the afternoon, and although he was unconscious, I believe he heard me after I requested for 2 issues: that he wait to die till my daughter obtained there (she did, and my son had visited within the morning) and that he ship me a Raven, his favourite chicken, after he died. After I had visited him, I needed to run an errand, and my daughter, who was with him, then referred to as to say he was gone. I drove again, and after I pulled into the car parking zone and obtained out of the automotive, a Raven swooped down, flew low proper over my head, and landed briefly on a close-by constructing, after which was gone. Relaxation in peace, Don, could you fly with the Ravens.
You all know him as a loving, variety, humorous, gifted instructor and deeply spiritually linked to nature. Rather than a proper obit, let me let you know some issues about Don chances are you’ll or could not know.
Don was born in Philadelphia right into a Quaker household and went to Germantown Associates College, then Swarthmore Faculty, majoring in Comparative Religions. He was a proficient musician who may sing, play the piano, and was a wonderful tabla hand drum participant. He even hung out in Calcutta, India, learning with a tabla guru there.
After school, Don moved to Berkeley, California, and within the hills stored cautious and delightful journals of the character he encountered. He quickly realized he was seeing issues that little was identified about. That planted the seed that later led him to start writing about nature. After returning to Massachusetts, he taught on the Warehouse Cooperative College, the place he met Invoice Phillips, an editor at Little, Brown and Firm/Hachette, whose daughter attended the college. Invoice accepted Don’s first ebook, Nature in Winter, and went on to change into Don’s editor for a few years.
Don then started educating on the Massachusetts Audubon Society and was within the means of writing a chicken conduct information when he met Lillian (already an avid hawk-watcher who got here from a background in animal conduct and psychiatric social work), who took his course on Hen Habits. As they are saying, the remaining is historical past. Don and Lillian obtained married and over greater than 30 years produced 35 Stokes Guides, together with 3 volumes on chicken conduct (instrumental in introducing a holistic method to birds), yard books such because the Hen Feeder, Hummingbird, and Bluebird books, newbie’s guides, and the nationwide The Stokes Area Information to Birds of North America. Stokes’ books have bought over 6 million copies. Don and Lillian produced and hosted the primary PBS nationwide tv collection on birds, Birdwatch with Don and Lillian Stokes, in addition to Stokes Birds at House, which 40 million viewers noticed. They gave keynote talks and taught at birding festivals and Audubon societies throughout the nation for years. They spent many winters on Sanibel Island birding and educating others at Ding Darling Nationwide Wildlife Refuge by way of their Stokes Birding and Pictures excursions.They had been Duck Stamp Judges and obtained a Companions in Flight Nationwide Conservation Award. Don belonged to many nature and conservation organizations, together with the Nuttall Ornithological Membership.
Befitting his stunning, religious aspect, Don was a pupil of Haiku poetry, writing it for a few years. Here’s a becoming instance.
Coming into the wilds
Outfitted to have a look at nature –
Wait! I’m nature.
Don will likely be buried at Mt. Auburn Cemetery in MA (a well-known birding hotspot) on Goldfinch Path (how becoming!!). There will likely be a personal household Celebration of Life as per his needs. If you need to do one thing in remembrance of Don, ship a contribution to the character, birding, or conservation group of your selection. Thanks.
