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Post by paulbodnar1 on Oct 14, 2013 13:04:23 GMT -8
Dear Friends: Jan Pasternak passed away this past weekend, I would like to offer my sincere condolences. We had corresponded off and on through emails and letters over the years. Jan's book "Fluttering encounters in the amazing archipelago" was an enjoyable read, his book touches upon the Southern Tailed Birdwing Butterfly (Ornithoptera meridionalis tarunggarensis). My only regret is that I had not had the chance to meet him in person, as this January 2014, I will be in West Papua New Guinea and I would have loved the chance to share birdwing experiences. He will be missed. Pictured is a pair of his favorite Ornithoptera. Truly, Paul Bodnar Crocodile Wildlife Conservationist Attachments:
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Post by Adam Cotton on Oct 14, 2013 13:10:59 GMT -8
That is terrible news. I had also corresponded with him over the years.
RIP Jan.
Adam.
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Post by laurie1 on Oct 14, 2013 22:33:28 GMT -8
Truly sad news. We've lost one of our heroes  . |
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Post by wollastoni on Oct 14, 2013 23:19:47 GMT -8
"One of our heroes", exactly !
Rest in peace, Jan !
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Post by nomad on Oct 15, 2013 11:18:42 GMT -8
 Jan [sitting left] with friends discussing Ornithoptera at the Rijks Natural History museum at Leiden in the Netherlands.  A plate showing the nominate Ornithoptera meridionalis from his paper on the rediscovery of O. meridionalis tarunggarensis in a new locality at Kamrau Bay, south-west Irian Jaya. Such was Jan's love of this beautiful species, Ray Straatman used to call him affectionately "Meridionak." A sad passing of a Great field lepidopterist. R.I.P Jan |
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Post by bobw on Oct 16, 2013 1:21:52 GMT -8
Jan [sitting left] with friends discussing Ornithoptera at the Rijks Natural History museum at Leiden in the Netherlands. The guy sitting next to Jan is Jan Haugum (of "Monograph of the Birdwing Butterflies" fame), who died just over 10 years ago. This photo was taken when he was reorganising the Papilionidae collection at Leiden. My only contact with Jan Pasternak was when he emailed me a few years ago for news of Jan Haugum - too many Jans, but sadly two fewer now. We had a brief email exchange and he seemed like a very nice guy. The entomological world is the poorer for the loss of the two Jans. Bob |
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Post by nomad on Oct 16, 2013 1:37:44 GMT -8
Also standing behind Jan, Ray Straatman and standing left Rieng de Jong. Jan and Ray were on a visit from their homes in Papua New Guinea.
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Post by papalidar on Oct 16, 2013 23:42:47 GMT -8
A good picture of Jan (from Himeji 1980) article from Jan about O meridionalis.
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Post by nomad on Oct 17, 2013 8:56:48 GMT -8
A nice photograph of Jan, doing what he loved best, exploring New Guinea for Birdwing butterflies.
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Post by papilio28570 on Oct 17, 2013 21:47:31 GMT -8
Is the cause of death known? He looks too young and healthy to die of age related dysfunction.
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Post by Adam Cotton on Oct 18, 2013 8:24:10 GMT -8
Dear Friends: My only regret is that I had not had the chance to meet him in person, as this January 2014, I will be in West Papua New Guinea and I would have loved the chance to share birdwing experiences. You wouldn't have met him in New Guinea, as some years ago he moved back to live in the Czech Republic. Adam. |
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Post by paulbodnar1 on Oct 18, 2013 13:39:04 GMT -8
Ah, yes my dear friend Adam. I should have clarified better.
Not meaning I would "meet" him in New Guinea, but rather share stories about West Papua New Guinea. We would have reminisced via email. {AND} I wish I could have met him in person, whether it was in Europe or wherever he may have been living....
I left my statement open to interpretation...haha.
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