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January 26, 2017
Sunset at Brotherton Bridge
The Celery Farm and the environment lost a good man last night.
John Brotherton, longtime Fyke treasurer, birder and former Mahwah Planning Board member, was a friend to all who knew him.
And unlike such other great Americans as George Washington, Ben Franklin and Walt Whitman, John Brotherton had a bridge named after him before he died. (Ever-modest John, of course, would have chided me for writing that.)
The bridge is the Celery Farm's Brotherton Bridge, and it could not have been better-named — sturdy, durable, straightforward and always there when you need it.
The bridge is 100 yards or so away from the Butterfly Garden's House Wren nest box, which is dedicated to John's bride, Pat, who died five years ago. Today they are closer.
Late this afternoon, I stopped by John's bridge and thought about all that he meant to so many of us — friend, father, grandfather, brother, stalwart.
I took solace in one of my favorite poems, one that always reminds me of the Celery Farm — "The Peace of Wild Things," by Wendell Berry.
When despair for the world grows in me
and I wake in the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children's lives may be,
I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought
of grief. I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars
waiting with their light. For a time
I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.
Amen, John.
13 comments
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to susan, dan and manny
peace and healing and light to all of you.
nina -
My first Christmas Bird Count was with John and Pat when I was 14, I will never forget it. Only saw you a couple of times a year but you will be missed, rest in peace John.
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Ah, yes. Those incredible, amazing North Shore trips. Got a lot of early life birds on them. Lost a spotting scope, too, one year when wind knocked over my tripod on the jetty @ Manasquan Inlet. ALWAYS the gracious friend, John tried to clamber down in between the rocks (!) to retrieve it. I knew it was a lost cause but he gave it his best shot. That’s the kid of guy he was.
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Thank you for your sweet tribute to John, and for introducing me to the Wendell Berry poem. John was a lovely and gentle man, and I will miss him.
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I have many fond memories of John and Pat from their annual NJ “North Shore” trip that they graciously led for many years, and of course at the CBC Recap meetings. Thank you for that lovely picture and tribute Jim!
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From the moment I met him, he was welcoming, friendly and always had a good word. In many ways he was the face of Fyke for me; as the sound of Pat’s laughter was the sound of it. Oh how I wish I’d seen him one last time but at least my final memory of him includes a few of those sly smiles and winks of which he was a master. Rest in Peace my brother! {{{John}}}
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I was so happy to have met him….Dianne DiBlasi
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I loved John. RIP
Thanks Jim!! -
Thank you, Jim, for this beautiful tribute to John, a fine, smart and funny fellow. He will be missed and fondly remembered by all who knew him.
RIP John. -
How sad! I hadn’t heard. What a good man John was! It truly is a great loss to the natural world. Thank you for your touching words of solace Jim.
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Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. It was an honor to know John. I am still speechless.
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Godspeed John. I hope you and Pat have great birds together wherever you are and will smile down on us every CBC with great weather.
Beautiful piece, Jim -
So very sweet and rich kind words. Thank you Jim thank you. A life well lived and ended well. Rare
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13 comments
Nina
to susan, dan and manny
peace and healing and light to all of you.
nina
Sean Ondich
My first Christmas Bird Count was with John and Pat when I was 14, I will never forget it. Only saw you a couple of times a year but you will be missed, rest in peace John.
Hugh Carola
Ah, yes. Those incredible, amazing North Shore trips. Got a lot of early life birds on them. Lost a spotting scope, too, one year when wind knocked over my tripod on the jetty @ Manasquan Inlet. ALWAYS the gracious friend, John tried to clamber down in between the rocks (!) to retrieve it. I knew it was a lost cause but he gave it his best shot. That’s the kid of guy he was.
Enid
Thank you for your sweet tribute to John, and for introducing me to the Wendell Berry poem. John was a lovely and gentle man, and I will miss him.
RF
I have many fond memories of John and Pat from their annual NJ “North Shore” trip that they graciously led for many years, and of course at the CBC Recap meetings. Thank you for that lovely picture and tribute Jim!
Hugh Carola
From the moment I met him, he was welcoming, friendly and always had a good word. In many ways he was the face of Fyke for me; as the sound of Pat’s laughter was the sound of it. Oh how I wish I’d seen him one last time but at least my final memory of him includes a few of those sly smiles and winks of which he was a master. Rest in Peace my brother! {{{John}}}
Dianne DiBlasi
I was so happy to have met him….Dianne DiBlasi
Deedee Burnside
I loved John. RIP
Thanks Jim!!
Gaby
Thank you, Jim, for this beautiful tribute to John, a fine, smart and funny fellow. He will be missed and fondly remembered by all who knew him.
RIP John.
Janet T
How sad! I hadn’t heard. What a good man John was! It truly is a great loss to the natural world. Thank you for your touching words of solace Jim.
deejbrown@gmail.com
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. It was an honor to know John. I am still speechless.
Lisa Ann Fanning
Godspeed John. I hope you and Pat have great birds together wherever you are and will smile down on us every CBC with great weather.
Beautiful piece, Jim
Sal
So very sweet and rich kind words. Thank you Jim thank you. A life well lived and ended well. Rare