|
Last few Messages:
--------------------------------------------
Message 16: Tuesday morning
Message 17: March Alert!!!
Message 18: More on march.
Message 19: Diputado not coming
Message 20: Arnaldo Tupiza death
--------------------------------------------
The following is from Chantal. Sorry for the cross postings to
those of you who already have this.
Jim
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
ECCD-D-1082/95
Wednesday, 13 September 1995
Dear CDF Officials and Friends:
I must with deepest regret inform you of the death at approximately
noon, today, of our beloved don Arnaldo Tupiza, employee and
representative of the Charles Darwin Research Station in Isabela,
Galapagos, for 25 years.
Don Tupiza had been in the highlands in the morning, working on the
children's scalesia forest and agroforestry project with Jacinto
Gordillo and Scott Shouse. Like the rest of CDRS, he and Jacinto
were not about to let the Strike stop them from doing the work they
love.
Don Tupiza rode the motorcycle down to town, and on a curve in the
road was hit by a truck owned by Dora Gruber and don Gil. Tupiza
was using the motorcycle primarily because he did not have access
to the GNPS vehicle, which was being held by the Isabela Strike
Committee.
As I write, we still have not been able to contact don Jacinto
Gordillo, and we are concerned about how he will react to the loss
of his best friend and faithful field companion. At first we were
told that the strikers would not cooperate with items for don
Tupiza's burial, but apparently they did allow GNPS personnel to
enter their office and take their vehicle to assist with making
arrangements.
I will be going to Isabela tomorrow with a delegation of don
Tupiza's colleagues and students from CDRS. It is a tough time to
leave CDRS (Andre will stay as Director Encargado), but we must
have the human decency to publicly mourn a man as special as
Tupiza. The environmental education department will prepare several
special radio programs about him, his life, his contributions, and
his special stewardship in Isabela.
Howard, what do you think of the idea of part of a Noticias
dedicated to Tupiza, with articles (short) by people who best knew
him in the field, whom he helped with their reserach or theses,
etc? I'll bet we all have our favorite Tupiza stories that we
should tell.
As you can imagine, we are very busy with the details of writing
the "acuerdo de condolencia", obtaining a casket and formalin,
transport to Isabela (the Beagle is working elsewhere), emergency
funds for the family (no one has funds due to the Strike), and many
other details.
I have received many messages from several of you on a variety of
important topics in the last 2 days, and I apologize for not
answering yet. Please have patience with me, I will answer when I
return. Every little thing we do takes 2 or 3 times as long, with
the strikers still in control of our entrance, and I must ask you
to be understanding of the delays.
May don Arnaldo rest in peace.
Sincerely,
Chantal M. Blanton, Ph.D.
Director - CDRS - Galapagos
|
|
Three dedicated stewards of
Galapagos (right to left): don Jacinto Gordillo, don Arnaldo Tupiza
(inset), and don Pedro Cartagena. Throughout their lives they have
worked to conserve the tortoises and other wildlife of the
Galapagos.
Don Arnaldo Tupiza died during the strike, while on a mission to
work in the Children's Forest of scalesia trees endemic to the
highlands of Isabela island. |
|
