We Will Miss You Liz!

As many of you already know, the Harvard Forest Schoolyard Ecology and Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) network communities mourn the tragic loss of Liz Duff, our Education Coordinator and long time colleague who died May 15.

Photo by Mike McCarthy

So many of us have been touched by the work and life of Liz Duff ...We have gathered a few remembrances of Liz from the Harvard Forest Schoolyard Ecology community as well as from the broader  (LTER) community to try to show a broader view of how Liz specifically touched those of us who worked with her in this area of her life.

Liz was a passionate educator and environmentalist.  There was nothing she loved better than being in the field with her students, teaching them about the marsh and how to protect it.  She has been the education coordinator of the PIE LTER since our very beginning and made a tremendous contribution to our program.  She always made sure we did not forget that education was a critical part of our mission.  All of us will miss her greatly. 

Plum Island Ecologist, Anne Giblin

Harvard Forest Schoolyard Ecology Teachers had this to share:

I found these photos of Liz as I was going through some older pictures and wanted to send them to you .... I took them while I was taking the MITS training at the Great Marsh LTER in Summer 2015. They capture her doing what she loved to do best, teaching teachers about conservation biology in the field.

Mike McCarthy,Thurston Middle School, Westwood, MA

An afternoon in the summer of 2018, preparing a lichen lesson with Liz to share with teachers for a Wade Institute class.  Liz was an amazing educator, who shared her passion for making the world a better place with so many teachers and students. I learned so much from her.  

Emilie Cushing, Glen Urquhart School, Beverly, M

Liz and students from O'Maley Innovation Middle School collecting data of transects from the marsh at Eastern Point in Gloucester to understand impacts of sea level rise.

Amy Donnelly and Dan Thomases, O'Maley Innovation Middle School, Gloucester, MA

 Photo by Amy Donnelly

Memories of working with Liz many years back and through HF Schoolyard generate fondness in my heart for her chuckling, easy going, collaborative disposition.

Mit Wanzer, F. W. Parker Charter Essential School

As a Boston Park Ranger, I participated in a Watershed Education workshop that Liz led at Endicott Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary in the 1990s.  I worked most closely with Liz in my current work in LTER Education.  Below is a slide I included in a presentation for educators in 2006, which is just a small indication of the value of Liz's collaboration with Harvard Forest Schoolyard Ecology outreach and education work. 

Liz mentoring new Buds, Leaves and Global Warming project Teachers

Pamela Snow, Harvard Forest Schoolyard Ecology

More comments from LTER Educators:

 I was regularly inspired by the thoughtful and thought-provoking questions she raised in EOC (Education and Outreach Committee)  calls. It was always clear that she loved what she did, inspired and influenced those around her, and was generous in sharing her knowledge. She will be greatly missed.

Caitlin Potter, Cedar Creek, LTER, Minnesota

That breaks my heart! She was such a lovely person and a wonderful educator. We will all miss her, as I know the kids of her program will too.  

 Jill F. Haukos, Konza Prairie Biological Station, Kansas

Blogger Pamela Photo by Liz

I was able to participate in many professional development opportunities both as a leader and participant; teacher conferences; environmental education conferences; Secretaries Advisory Group on Env. Ed. (SAGEE); Wade Institute (formerly MITS)  and LTER Education and All Scientist Meetings alongside Liz through the years.  Liz took the photo of me at left during the All Scientists Meeting in Pacific Grove California...I had taken photos of her on her camera..and so, do not have one to share here ...we were taking some time between meetings here to bask in the magnificent glory of the rainbow by the ocean and whale watching from shore with binoculars at that moment together. This image helps me remember the inspiration we shared through these learning and teaching moments through the years.

Earlier this week, I walked the beach at Plum Island and thought about Liz's love  of the ocean, and sent her warm wishes on her journey, imagining that she is still able to tune into that beauty that she dedicated herself to sharing with others, alongside my late sister, Susan, who worked with Liz through the Gulf of Maine institute and Mass. Coastal Zone Management outreach.

Friends and colleagues are encouraged to post remembrances of Liz on her Facebook page (@Liz Duff) and make donations to environmental education organizations.

 Her obituary, and ways to honor her memory can be found at  https://obituaries.gloucestertimes.com/obituary/elizabeth-duff-
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Rest in Peace Liz!  Your memory and work lives on in all of us you touched.