Date: 4/28/25 7:20 pm From: Rich and Susan Boyd (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: The passing of Bruce Smithson of Wilmington
Bruce was a grand champion of birding. Susan and I travelled with him to
Alaska (twice), California, and Texas on memorable birding trips. Alway
kind and supportive, he was a joy to bird with. Good memories of a grand
person. RIP, Bruce. Rich and Susan Boyd, Beaufort, NC
On Mon, Apr 28, 2025 at 6:31 PM Sherry Lane <carolinabirds...> wrote:
> Dear Carolina Birders,
>
> It is with great sadness that I inform the Carolina birding community of
> the passing of Bruce Smithson. His wife, Patti, shared that he passed
> peacefully in his sleep today after a long illness.
>
> To me, Bruce was a legendary birder. He was not only my mentor but also a
> dear friend. He always took the time to bring beginner birders along,
> inspiring them to improve their skills. I learned so much from Bruce and
> cherish the countless wonderful memories we created while birding in
> Wilmington and throughout the Carolinas. We also traveled to Costa Rica,
> Colombia, and Kenya on birding trips. His passion for birding and for life
> in general was truly contagious, and he will be deeply missed by many.
>
> If you have any memories of Bruce Smithson, please share them with me, and
> I will pass them along to Patti. I know she would love to read them.
>
> One of my favorite memories is birding at Fort Fisher Spit with Bruce. He
> had an incredible ability to find rare shorebirds among the masses like no
> one else.
>
> Sherry Lane
> New Smyrna Beach, Florida
> LifeBirdTours.com
>
>
