Date: 1/25/26 6:42 am From: Jeff Holbrook <birdpany...> Subject: Re: Recent Passing of Birders
Great birders will always be missed. We need more people like these, not less.
I did not know Joyce Hoffmann or Gene Wilhelm directly but always read their posts. They were great resources for their areas. If I remember correctly, Gene always had great reports from the Volant Strips, where he often recorded Short-eared Owls.
I did know "Clare" Nicholls quite well. He was a participant in my first ever Christmas Bird Counts, when I started doing the Linesville CBC back in 1983 and beyond. I birded with him and the Lebermans, Mary, Robert (Bob), and Ron. All great birders who were formative in my early birding adventures. Clare and I were paired up for a few sections in those early years. Thank you for jogging up those great memories.
May they all rest in peace.
Respectfully,
Jeff Holbrook
Corning, NY
> On 01/23/2026 8:21 AM EST Michael Fialkovich <0000012b4af48ab0-dmarc-request...> wrote:
>
>
> Hi Everyone,
>
> Just making sure this sad news gets to everyone. Three long time and well known Pennsylvania Birders have passed away over the past several weeks.
>
> Joyce Hoffmann of Allegheny County passed December 22, 2025.
>
> Gene Wilhelm from Butler County passed away January 18, 2026.
>
> Thomas Clare Nicholls of Crawford County passed away January 20, 2026.
>
> May they rest in peace.
>
> Mike Fialkovich
> Pittsburgh Area, Allegheny County
