ROGERS REFUGE - Key Persons
Our Chief Engineer - Charles Magee, who over the course of many weekends helped us figure out how to set up the architectural wonder that is our new Purple Martin resort;
Job Titles:
- Our Chief Infrastructure Officer
Our Chief Infrastructure Officer - Clark Lennon, who built the bridges and boardwalks that make a walk along the Marsh Loop and connecting trails so much simpler (and who also reconfigured and repaired some curious Boy Scout projects, including what was formerly known as the bridge to nowhere).
Job Titles:
- Chief Woodcutter, Who Helped Clear the Trails of the Casualties of Sandy, Irene, and Other Storms
Eric Tazelaar - Chief Woodcutter, who helped clear the trails of the casualties of Sandy, Irene, and other storms.
Nesting boxes for Purple Martins, Tree Swallows, Bluebirds and Wood Ducks, placed throughout the refuge as well as in the Institute Woods, are dedicated to the memory of Lou Beck, former President of Washington Crossing Audubon Society, who led regular walks through this area and introduced many people to the pleasures of birding. He was devoted to the preservation of this Refuge and habitats for birds.
Louis R. Beck Jr., 82, a resident of Pennington for 55 years, passed away with family by his side on July 30, 2013. Born in Philadelphia, Mr.Beck was a 1953 graduate of the Philadelphia Textile Institute (Philadelphia University). He served in the U.S. Navy Reserve and was on active duty aboard the U.S.S. Kirkpatrick (DER 318) from 1955 to 1957. Mr. Beck worked as a research chemist for the Textile Research Institute, where he co-authored a number of journal papers on the subject of thermal analysis; National Lead Co., and FMC, from which he retired in 1998.
He was active in Pennington Boy Scout Troop 41 from 1960 to 1977 and was scout master from 1962 to 1977. He received the Boy Scouts of America's "Award of Merit" from the George Washington Council. He had a lifelong interest in natural history and a keen interest in birding. He was past president of the Trenton Naturalist Club and Washington Crossing Audubon Society. He was field trip and program chairman for both clubs for many years. He led field trips and gave courses in birding for the Hopewell Valley School system, Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association, Friends of Hamilton-Trenton Marsh, and Isles. He also was co-compiler of the National Audubon Princeton Christmas count since 1999. He received the "Friends of Hopewell Valley Open Space 2003 Jack Gleeson Memorial Environmental Award."
His family was the most important thing in his life. Son of the late Louis and Elizabeth Beck, he is survived by his wife of 60 years, Gloria Beck, and five children, Linda (Joseph) Scogna, Louis W. (Suzy) Beck, Charlene (Michael) Di Via, Julie (Bill) Lowe, Nancy (Nicholas) Gravino, and 13 grandchildren; a brother, Andrew (JoEllyn) Beck, and three nieces.
Job Titles:
- Head of Operations, Who Organized the Work Teams That Helped Construct the Boardwalks and Bridges and Kept Everyone on Task to His Exacting Standards
Ted Thomas - Head of Operations, who organized the work teams that helped construct the boardwalks and bridges and kept everyone on task to his exacting standards;