Nature Done Wright

Patty and I and several Fyke friends attended the memorial for Fred Ditmars on Friday night at the Hermitage.

Fred was an amazing guy who loved the Celery Farm and birding, and it pains me to write about him in the past tense. 

Many years ago, I would run into Fred on the Warden's Watch. We would sit on the platform and talk, and he always tried to steer the conversation toward the Celery Farm and how he could help protect it.

I was working on the Celery Farm book that at the time, and he quietly went far out of his way to help the project.

That was Fred — always reaching out, trying to help, trying to protect nature and the birds and places that he loved.

To that end, Fred served on the board of the Hermitage and New Jersey Audubon.

In short, a great guy all around.

The newest bench at the Celery Farm, just to the south of No-Name Culvert, was placed there in Fred's honor by the Ditmars family.

I will always remember Fred — and the bench is a nice reminder of a man who made a difference.

You can read more about Fred here.