Farewell to Dick Kleen

We are sorry to say, our friend, Dick Kleen passed away July 9, 2008. There is a wonderful tribute to him in the Sunday Star Democrat, July 13, 2008 written by some of his closest friends.

Les Roslund wrote a great article about Dick for the May/June 2005 MOS Yellowthroat, page 15, which you can find online on the MOS website. Here is a portion of what Les wrote about Dick -

Dick has been a tower of strength and a major source of inspiration for the Talbot County Chapter of MOS since its inception back in 1955. He led the push to establish a chapter in Talbot County and was president of the chapter most of the time for the next 20 years. He established the St Michaels Christmas Count in 1954 and has actively participated in it every year since then. With superb leadership skills, he developed an admirable record of getting young people as well as adults excited about the birds. He carried his birding interest intensely throughout the state, becoming very familiar with where birds of Maryland could be found. Such activity put him in touch with most of the birders of Maryland, and surely contributed to his becoming the 3rd State President of the Maryland Ornithological Society.... The interests of birding and birders in Talbot County have benefitted greatly from the energy, dedication, and enthusiasm of Dick Kleen.

— Les Roslund, Talbot County Bird Club


Memorial Service to be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 19,
at Christ Church in St Michaels, MD

Memorial Donations may be made to the Dick Kleen Fund of the Mid-
Shore Community Foundation, 102 East Dover St, Easton, MD 21601,
or to Talbot Hospice Foundation, 586 Cynwood Drive, Easton, MD 21601.