Obituary - W. Richard J. Dean

It is with great sadness that we mourn the loss of Richard Dean, a long-standing member of the Fitz family. Richard had a long and varied career in research and conservation. In the 1970s he worked as a research assistant at the Barberspan Ornithological Research Station and collected birds and eggs throughout southern Africa and Angola for Charles Sibley’s global study of bird evolution. After a stint in charge of Nylsvley Nature Reserve, he started working in the Karoo with his wife, botanical ecologist Sue Milton. They set up a long-term study site near Prince Albert, and subsequently settled in the town. In 1995 Richard obtained a PhD from the Fitz for his thesis on the ecology and conservation of endemic and nomadic birds in the Karoo. He then went on to supervise Colleen Seymour’s PhD on the keystone role played by Camelthorn trees, as well the research projects of several CB students.

In ornithological circles, Richard is perhaps best known as editor of the seventh edition of Roberts’ Birds of Southern Africa, but he was a prolific writer. In addition to hundreds of scientific papers, he authored books on the birds of Angola, on nomadic birds, and co-edited a book on the Karoo with Sue Milton. Richard was a man of many talents, equally adept at restoring vintage motorbikes and woodwork as he was at writing insightful papers. He and Sue devoted much of their time studying rangeland ecology and restoration, especially in the Karoo. They established a plant nursery in Prince Albert to create employment and promote rangeland restoration in the region.

Richard leaves a massive legacy, and will be sorely missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing him.