Mike Luther
Mike Luther was an active member of the Santa Cruz County Chapter Board for many years before he began taking on more responsibilities for the propagation group in the early nineteen-nineties.
Our propagation group began around 1980, at Nevin Smith’s nursery Wintergreen, and moved in the early 1990s to Suncrest Nurseries, which has given the group amazing support ever since. From that time, Mike became right hand man to the group’s prior leader, Denise Polk. When Denise retired in 2013 for health reasons, Mike naturally emerged as the leader, in large part because of his deliberate and steady way of working, his focus, and the strong sense of direction that he brought to the group: in other words because he cared.
Fred McPherson
Environmental Educator Hopelessly in Love with Nature
It is with deep sadness that we report the death of Fred McPherson founding member of our chapter, past president, and CNPS Fellow.
Literally and figuratively, Fred McPherson was a force of, and for, nature in the San Lorenzo Valley as well as the Santa Cruz Mountains bioregion. He was a friend, teacher, advisor, and mentor to so many people of all ages. Fred was at home in a high school or college classroom, boardroom, on the radio or in a video, behind a camera, and most of all outside. He recorded his observations in an extensive collection of natural history journals and passed that skill on to anyone who asked. His early passion for learning turned into a passion to educate others and to advocate for the conservation of our natural areas. Willingness to share his knowledge and experience, while enthusiastically listening to people of all ages and backgrounds was one of his most endearing qualities.
Randall Morgan
It is with deep sadness that we report the death of Randy Morgan, founding member of our chapter, past president, and CNPS Fellow.
Many people have fond memories of Randy, and we are sharing some of them here. Also, see our July August 2017 Newsletter for more information.
The Randall Morgan Collections and Santa Cruz Natural History Initiative was developed in consultation with Morgan himself in spring 2017. The Initiative aims to honor, preserve, and build upon the legacy of Morgan’s own projects and collections.