soCiety neWs
in Memoriam
On January 5, 2010, three biologists for the California Department of Fish and
Game (CDFG)—Kevin O’Connor, Clu Cotter, and Tom Stolberg—lost their
lives in a helicopter crash while conducting a routine aerial deer survey in a remote area of the Sierra National Forest. The pilot, Dennis “Mike” Donovan,
also perished in the accident.
O’Connor, 40, was a senior wildlife biologist supervisor and a longtime member of TWS’s Western Section
and San Joaquin Valley Chapter. After earning a bachelor’s
degree in wildlife and fisheries biology from the University
of California, he worked as a biologist with the USDA Forest
Service before joining the CDFG in 1997. O’Connor studied
the relationship between timber harvest and wildlife to better
manage forest resources in the Central Sierra Nevada. Since
2005, he had enthusiastically led staff in tasks including wildlife management, lands management, and public education.
courtesy of
california dfG
Cotter, 48, was an active member of TWS’s Western
Section. After earning a bachelor’s degree in ecology and
systematic biology from California Polytechnic, he worked
with the USDA Forest Service, the Fresno County Planning
Department, and the San Joaquin District Department of
Water Resources. Cotter brought experience and professionalism to his work with the CDFG, which he joined as an
associate biologist in 1999. He focused on many aspects of
wildlife management, from public outreach to deer management to carnivore research in the high Sierra.
courtesy of
california dfG
Stolberg, 31, was a long-term seasonal aide for the
CDFG, having first joined in 2004. An Eagle Scout with a
bachelor’s degree in history, Stolberg by all accounts was
an asset to the agency, answering questions from the public
about hunting and assisting with wildlife habitat projects
and deer population studies.
Donovan, 70, was a Navy veteran whom agency
biologists considered a true partner in their work. His experience flying dated back to 1964 and included three combat
tours in Vietnam; work for the U.S. Geological Survey; and
supporting Bishop, California’s White Mountain Research
Station. Donovan was known as a pilot to call on for challenging jobs, including fighting forest fires throughout the
West, conducting rescues with the Riverside Mountain
Rescue Unit (photo) and the Palm Springs Mounted Police,
and helping build the Palm Springs Tramway along one of
the steepest mountains in the U.S.
courtesy of
california dfG
courtesy of
california dfG
The California Association of Professional Scientists has set up a memorial
fund to help the families of the three wildlifers, whose loss will be deeply felt
by many. “This will weigh heavily on everyone who knew these fine men,” says
Don Yasuda, Western Section Representative to TWS Council.
