The Passing Of Jeff Sanders

[Al Stokie]

Hello Bird People,

Yesterday I got a call from Rena C telling me about the passing of
Jeff Sanders from complications while waiting for a procedure for a
brain tumor. There's a fine tribute message from Greg Neise on
Facebook about Jeff's mentoring year's ago but I will do this post on
IBET for those who are not on Facebook as I am not.

My 1st encounter with Jeff was at James Park in Evanston in 1985 or
1986 where I had gone to see my 1st Shrike as reported on the Bird
HotLine. I did see the Shrike & was pleased with myself when this
rather gruff birder showed up asking me if it was a Northern or a
Loggerhead Shrike.
Of course I had no idea as I had only gone to see a Shrike & couldn't
tell which one it was. I was not a very talented observer at that
point. Jeff, the gruff birder, proceeded to lecture me on how to tell
them apart which was more than I could handle at that point so I
retreated. Later I saw Andy Sigler who told me Jeff's name & said he
was always like that, somewhat impatient when looking for birds as
well as somewhat impatient concerning just about everything!

Over the course of the next few months I ran into Jeff often & decided
he was not such a bad guy after all & actually birded with him several
times & he became a regular birding companion along with Andy Sigler,
Joel Greenberg & David Johnson.

Jeff hung around with another birder named Bill DeBates (not sure if
that's spelled correctly) who was the 1st person who kept county bird
lists in every state he went to long before our current crop of county
listers. I made a couple of car trips with Jeff & Bill & I have never
laughed so much as I did listening to the two of them trade insults &
joke around. Jeff had a strong sense of humor. Sadly Bill is also no
longer with us.

Jeff had all kinds of health problems the last few years but somehow
put up with them as best he could although he finally gave in as he
had too. The only birding Jeff was able to do recently was the Fort
Sheridan & Illinois Beach Hawk Watches but was unable to do so this
year which made him even more aggravated than usual.

I will miss talking to Jeff as that was always an entertaining pastime
in spite of everything.
Rest easy Mr. Sanders!

Al Stokie

[Elizabeth Morris]

When I first met Jeff was on my first bird walk sponserd by Lake/Cook Audubon at Skokie Lagoons. Which my bird buddy Cindy told me I should go on this walk, she knew I was green at birding and might learn more about the wood warblers. 

I was very affraid of him in the first few hours that day. Then he heard a Golden wing and found it just for Rena, who told the group she hadn’t seen one in many years. At that point I did’t even know you could ID a bird by it’s song.

After that I made sure to go on as many walks with that group bc I knew he’d be there with Rena and her people. I found myself sticking close to him bc he simply knew everything. I was asking him questions and I think he realized it was okay and began teaching me the ways of the birds. I too laughed at his one liners all the time. 

I believe it was Bonnie (another one of the Lake/Cook people) who told me that as a kid Jeff would fall asleep readiing bird books. You sure don’t hear about that these days.

Farwell my mentor, I hope you know how much you taught me over the years. I will miss you, I’m sure you’re flying high now.

Lizz Morris

Lake County 

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