It is with a heavy and sad heart we say farewell to our dear friend and founding member of what today has become Grand Harbor Audubon, Inc. I have known Vicky for all the 28 years that she and her husband Peter have been members of Grand Harbor. We learned to play golf at the same time and soon became the best of friends and golf partners. We both could hit the ball a mile, but no one knew where it might end up...though so very often, side by side!  Somehow, we won our first Member-Member Championship in 2021 and there would be more to follow. Vicky was athletic, competitive, and fun – willing to take on just about anything and make it better. We were like sisters – she was always trying to tell me what to do – we fought like sisters and loved each other like sisters. There was little we didn’t share. And that brings me to Grand Harbor Audubon. I was on the Green Committee and found out we were going to lose our Audubon Certification and knew we could NOT let that happen. So, whom do you call? Your best friend of course! And then the only “real birder” I knew here, Neil Stalter. Together we formed our first Steering Committee and ultimately reinstated our Audubon Certification. That’s how Grand Harbor Audubon got its start.

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        I want to tell you more about Vicky. She was so very bright, capable, and willing to take on any challenge. She also had a rather caustic or snarly side to her with a facial grimace that went right along with it. Those who knew her know exactly what I’m talking about! But she had a heart of gold and was so very kind, generous and thoughtful, so often putting others first.

           

        I want to share one story to show how committed Vicky was to the birds. I was out for a walk early one Easter Sunday morning when I heard all this racket over by the 15th hole on the Harbor course. Turned out it was a momma Mottled Duck and her brood on the bank of the retention pond calling to her smallest duckling who had fallen in the pond and was too small to fly out. And of all things a Hawk was circling overhead! Not knowing what to do I called Neil Stalter who gave me a lecture on “the order of things” and how Mother Nature was sometimes cruel. I was heartbroken and could not accept that!  So, I called Vicky who of course totally agreed with me and brought her husband Peter to the site to help. My husband Bill and I went over to golf maintenance and found a broken wooden ladder and remnants of carpeting that Peter and Bill used to build a ramp into the pond. Vicky and I kept an eye on the hawk while we instructed them on how a ramp should be built. As soon as we were done, we backed away and amazingly watched as momma duck walked down that rickety ramp and nudged her tiny and tired little duckling back up! We all felt SO good! Now that’s a friend who would and could do anything! Grand Harbor owes her much gratitude for all she’s done over these many years. She will be missed so very much by so many! Rest in peace dear friend. Love, Deb