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September 21, 2006 - Through their eyes, part 2I OA • The Suffolk Times • September 21, 2006 Suffolk Times photo courtesy of Diana Latham Above: Roy Latham identifying a mushroom specimen In 1972. Right: Judd Bennett, shown here feeding a catbird, was one of those rare people who made you want to spend more time with him, a quiet man of deep thought and a true friend. r • Suffolk Times photo by Paul Stoutwburgh Through their eyes, part 2 LAST WEEK 1 SPOKE about the pow- erful influence that Gil Raynor, Den- nis Puleston and Sam Gottscho had on my life. This week we'll continue with more of our briefs on those who influenced me throughout my life FOCUS Judd Bennett ON was an artist in his own right, a NATURE sort of recluse who loved to by Paul work in his Stoutenburgh garden and in time became an expert birder. We went on many a field trip together and he opened the win- dow for me to see beauty in texture, shape and color in things such as wind- blown sand or a gnarled branch of a tree. Judd would see and point out to me beautiful preserved wood sidings of old barns and buildings. Judd lived by himself in a modest home and kept a small greenhouse where he grew a wide variety of herbs When I first met him he was a chain smoker, but traveling with a group of birders on field trips, where no one smoked, he decided to give it up. After that, he put the money he spent on cigarettes into natural histo- ry books that became his companion in later years In those early years I left the selling business and went back to college to get a degree in teaching. It was in my days of teaching in Greenport that I met that remarkable genius Roy Latham, who to me was a walking nat- ural history encyclopedia, a man who, working by himself, seemed to know every phase of the natural world, be it plant, animal, fish, insect or bird. You name it, and he'd give you its life his- tory. I had fast seen Roy in the Cran- berry Bog in Riverhead, where he was waving a net around to collect insects I thought he was in some sort of trouble, but no, he was just out collecting. I remember in Roy's later years, Barbara and I had stopped in to ask about a certain plant we had seen. At that time he was very old and his eyesight was failing. Yes, he knew what we were talking about, and with that, he got down on his hands and knees and started to look through the maze of plants in his garden to show us that particular plant. Then Roy told me about a man who lived on Navy Street in Orient who photographed flowers. I had to meet him. His name was Vrtton Richards. Yea �i j I N a. We became great friends and I learned much about composition, light and patience from him. He used a large, 4 x 5- format camera and would only expose his precious film when he was completely satisfied that everything was just right, which often took over a half an hour. There have been so many wonder- ful people who have influenced me through life. My own dad, although not an ardent birder, did know his backyard birds and always had suet for them just outside our breakfast win- dow. He showed me how and where to look for crabs, how to dig for soft clams My dad, open - Ing oysters that were plentiful in the '40s. He taught me how to open them using his special oyster knife, which I still have. Suffolk Times photo by Paul Stoutenburgh by digging a deep hole in the sand and letting the sides fall in so you wouldn't crush the soft sheds of the clam He showed me where the oysters were along our creek edges and how to open them I still have his oyster knife, but, sorry to say, there are no longer many oysters in our creeks so I can use it. In those early days of my youth he introduced me to his single - barrel shot- gun, which eventually I mastered and was counted on to bring home many a meal during those hard times of the Depression. He was a true believer in "if you shot it, you ate iL" There was no such thing in his book for shooting just for the sport of it. I gained my love for gardening from my dad. He loved his garden and un- knowingly that love for flowers and the good earth rubbed off on me. There was always a flower on the table, and to this day the tradition has passed on to our kids I know I've missed many of the peo- pie who have touched me and made it possible for me to see more clearly the fascinating world around us. There is just not room enough here to mention them all. But perhaps in the aftermath of the recent tragedy of Steve Irwin (the crocodile hunter), you, too, might take time to reflect on those who have helped to influence your life as Steve did for so many people. There are so many wonderful people who have in one way or another helped to shape my life. People like Alex and Bob Goelet,Art Cooley, Roy Wilcox, Robert Cushman Murphy, Larry Penny, Acne Dove, Bob Gloria, Carl Helms, Oren Ryker, John Cryden, John Turner and others who left their mark on me. And now to the greatest influence of all, the one who has liter- ally made me what I am — my wife, Barbara. There's not enough space or paper to list her influence on me, and I truly thank you. Barbara. The Suffolk Times • September 21, 2006 art r ou ei r eyes, LAST WEEK I SPOKE about the pow- erful influence that Gil Raynor; Den- nis Puleston and Sam Gottscho had on my life. This week we'll continue with more of our briefs on those who influenced me throughout my Focus life. Judd Bennett ON was an artist in his own right, a NATURE sort of recluse who loved to by Pau work in his Stoutenburgh garden and in time became an expert birder. We went on many a field trip together and he opened the win- dow for me to see beauty in texture, shape and color in things such as wind blown sand or a gnarled branch of a tree. Judd would see and point out to me beautiful preserved wood sidings of old barns and buildings. Judd lived by himself in a modest home and kept a small greenhouse where he grew a wide variety of herbs. When I first met him he was a chain smoker, but traveling with a group of birders on field trips, where no one smoked, he decided to give it up. After that, he put the money he spent on cigarettes into natural histo ry books that became his companion in later years. In those early years I left the selling business and went back to college to get a degree in teaching. It was in my days of teaching in Greenport that I met that remarkable genius Roy Latham, who to me was a walking nat- ural history encyclopedia, a man who, working by himself, seemed to know every phase of the natural world, be it plant, animal, fish, insect or bird. You name it, and he'd give you its life his- tory. I had first seen Roy in the Cran- berry Bog in Riverhead, where he was waving a net around to collect insects. I Suffolk Times thought he was in some sort of trouble but no, he was just out collecting. I remember in Roy's later years, Barbara and I had stopped in to ask about a certain plant we had seen. At that time he was very old and his eyesight was failing. Yes, he knew wha we were talking about, and with that, lie got down on his hands and knees and started to look through the maze of plants in his garden to show us that particular plant. Then Roy told me about a man whc lived on Navy Street in Orient who photographed flowers. I had to meet him. His name was Vinton Richards. Paul Sloulenhmcjh App ;- d Suffolk Times photo courtesy of Diana Roy Latham identifying a mushroom specimen in 1972. Right: Judd Bennett, here feeding a catbird, was one of those rare people who made you want to more time with him, a quiet man of deep thought and a true friend. much about composition, light and v patience from him. He used a large, 4 x 5- format camera and would only expose his precious film when he was completely satisfied that everything was just right, which often took over a half an hour. There have been so many wonder - I people who have influenced me through life. My own dad, although not an ardent birder, did know his backyard birds and always had suet for there just outside our breakfast win- dow He showed me how and where to look for crabs, how to di for soft clams by digging a deep hole in the sand and letting the sides fall in so You wouldn't crush the soft shells of the clam. He showed me where the oysters were along our creek edges and how to open them. I still have his oyster knife, but, sorry to say, there are no longer many oysters in our creeks so I can use it. In those early days of my youth he introduced me to his single - barrel shot- gun, which eventually I mastered and was counted on to bring home many a meal during those hard times of the Depression. He was a true believer in "if you shot it, you ate it." There was no such thing in his book for shooting just for the sport of it. p I I gained my love for gardening from my dad. He loved his garden and un- knowingly that love for flowers and the good earth rubbed off on me. There was always a flower on the table, and to this day the tradition has passed on to our kids. I know I've missed many of the peo- ple who have touched me and made it possible for me to see more clearly the fascinating world around us. There is just not room enough here to mention them all. But perhaps in the aftermath of the recent tragedy of Steve Irwin (the crocodile hunter), you, too, might take time to reflect on those who have helped to influence your life as Steve did for so many people. There are so many wonderful people who have in one way or another helped to shape my life. People like Alex and Bob Goelet, Art Cooley, Roy Wilcox, Robert Cushman Murphy, Larry Penny, Aline Dove, Bob Gloria, Carl Helms, Oren Ryker, John Cryden, John Turner and others who left their mark on me. And now to the greatest influence of all, the one who has liter- ally made me what I am - my wife, Barbara. There's not enough space or paper to list her influence on me, and 1 truly thank vou, Barbara. My dad, open- ing oysters that were plentiful in the '40s. He taught me how to open them using his special oyster knife, which still have. Suffolk Times photo by Paul Stoutenburgh