[Tweeters] Bob Sundstrom, Gone Birding

[Paul Bannick]

What a huge loss!  Bob was a kind, assuming but brilliant man.  Bob also
showed me my first wild Pygmy-Owl.  Several years later he impressed me
when I showed him a photo of a Washington Pygmy-Owl and he was able to tell
me from what region of Washington it hailed based upon the color.

There is so much more to remember and share but I am sure others will chime
in.  I for one am glad I met him.

On Mon, May 17, 2021 at 11:04 AM Ellen Blackstone <ellenblackstone at gmail.com>
wrote:


> Hello, Tweeters,

>

> Sad news here about Bob Sundstrom from his wife, Sally Alhadeff.

>

> Take care, Everyone,

> Ellen Blackstone

> Seattle

> =================

>

>

> Bob Sundstrom passed away on May 16, 2021, after a recurrence of leukemia.

> He died comfortably and in good spirits at his home in the country along

> Scatter Creek in south Thurston County, in the company of his wife, Sally

> Alhadeff and their three cats. He was 69.

>

>

> Birds were a great love for Bob, as well as his career. He earned a living

> as a full-time professional birder: leading tours to many parts of the

> world for Victor Emanuel Nature Tours, conducting van trips from Mercer

> Island, teaching, and writing for radio. For thirty years Bob taught Birding

> by Ear for Seattle Audubon Society, helping many to know and appreciate

> the voices of birds.

>

>

> His writer’s voice will continue to be heard through nearly 900 BirdNote radio

> stories he authored as Lead Writer. He continued writing into his final

> days, including a final story on May 14. He thanks founder Chris Peterson

> and Executive Director Sallie Bodie for the opportunity to be part of the

> BirdNote team. He was overwhelmed by the gratitude expressed for his career

> work in his last months.

> (https://www.birdnote.org/messages-bob-sundstrom)

>

>

> Bob liked to say that birds were his day job, but not his obsession.  When

> not birding or writing, Bob loved books, music, bicycling, and single malt

> Scotch. He and Sally took great pleasure in gardening and tending the

> natural habitats on their rural acres.  He became a great admirer of

> classic literature and poetry. He earned his Ph.D. in cultural anthropology

> at the University of Washington.

>

>

> Bob is survived by his wife, Sally Alhadeff, brother Bill Sundstrom, and

> nephews Ethan and Erin Sundstrom. His loving parents, Mary and Bill, are

> deceased. He thanks many friends and colleagues, the Olympia Unitarian

> Universalist congregation, and Sally’s family for their loving support.

>

>

> Sally and Bob had 28 wonderful years together. They loved watching the

> swallows glide and the ravens soar above their camas-covered meadow along

> Scatter Creek.

>

>

> If you’d like to leave a remembrance in Bob’s name, please consider a

> donation to BirdNote (birdnote.org).

> _______________________________________________

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>



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