The Board of Directors of NAS notes with great sorrow the death of Jim Rod, age 53, on July 4 in New York City, from cancer. A native of Ames, Iowa, Jim studied wildlife biology at Iowa State University and received a B.S. degree in journalism from Iona College. He was an educator and advocate who led a life in the exaltation and defense of nature.

In 1973, Jim became the assistant to the president of NAS, and in 1982 he assumed the post of manager and warden of NAS' Constitution Marsh Sanctuary on the Hudson River in Garrison, N.Y., where, until recently, he established and ran an educational program for 5000 visitors a year. His favorite question, repeated by every school child in the area was, "Where do fish come from?" His answer, "Cattails," provided a vivid lesson on habitat and the food web. Greatly respected, Jim received Audubon's Golden Egret Award last year. The NAS-NY state office honored him with a memorial service on Sunday, September 20 at Boscobel, overlooking Constitution Marsh.

Donations are being accepted by NAS' Jim Rod Memorial Fund to establish an endowment dedicated to the support of activities at the marsh he loved and for which he did so much. Mail contributions c/o Constitution Marsh Sanctuary; POBox 174; Cold Spring, NY 10516.