Kerry-Jayne WILSON Obituary

You, me, Dave Cat (deceased) and Stewart Bisset shared a small lab on the 5th floor of the Zoo dept at UC (1971- 74).. and I should have visited you at Charleston. I miss you. John Clark (acarologist - aka mite-man)

Kerry-Jayne has been greatly on my mind these past few weeks. I finally sat down to prepare a "let's catch up" letter, only discover her death in March of this year. I am greatly saddened and have many pleasant memories of her. We together visited the Orkney Islands in 1977 and bicycled from Maes Howe to Skapa flow, and she gave me my first thoughtful introduction to sea birds as we sat on a windy cliff overlooking the North Sea. Later she caught up with me in Seattle on her way home and with a group of my local friends we spent a weekend backpacking in the Olympic Mountains. She made one last visit that I was able to share with here in the early 90s when we went out for a catch-up coffee date near the University of Washington. I have always looked forward to her Christmas communications with elegant descriptions of her bird research ventures, and her descriptions of her time in Antarctica at McMurdo Base (if my memory serves me correctly) initiated my interest in that continent with a personal touch. Rest well, Kerry-Jayne and my condolences to her family and friends in New Zealand.

I feel very blessed to have known such an amazing person full of passion and commitment to do whatever she could to protect seabirds and their environment. Kerry-Jayne you were an inspiriation to me and one of those leaders in life that leaves a lasting effect. I enjoyed our chats and the quiet times too. You will be missed by many, however you leave a legacy to continue the work here on the West Coast to protect this precious environment. Arohanui, forever in our hearts.

Remembering a beautiful person who achieved great things in her work with seabirds. Feeling very sad to lose someone who will be missed by all her knew her.

I was so happy when you came back into my life Kerry, w6e has some great debates over the future , particularly conservation where your optimism & work stood against my cynicism and conviction 'that the buggers are winning".
Your spirit of indefatigability was a great asset for the work you did.