Stephen Woodman Eaton Ph.D.

A wonderful, inspiring neighbor for many years. I remember visiting him and Betty often at their house on the Ten Mile Rd., Allegany, enjoying conversations about the area and Steve's passions.

I probably would not have ever wanted a pair of binoculars at age 12 without him around....he was my neighbor on the Ten Mile Road in Allegany, NY. Nowadays, I teach Ornithology and other wildlife science courses at SUNY Oswego; I also teach at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry as Adjunct. I do not think any of this would have happened without Steve as a quiet mentor, he didn't know how inspirational he was to so many. Such a great man. I recently had a student from SUNY...

One of the sweetest, most knowledgeable men I've ever known.

Steve was the rare educator who had the ability to instill deep appreciation at the natural world in those around him and he did it with very few words but lots of meaning. A real gift. And I'm quite sure that were it not for Steve's encouragement, Fred Meyer's bird column in the Olean Times Herald would have died along with Fred but it's still going 20 years later. Deepest condolences to Betty and the rest of his family.

Steve was the rare educator who had the ability to instill wonder in the natural world to those around him and he did it with very few words but lots of meaning. A real gift. And I'm sure that without Steve's encouragement Fred Meyer's bird column in the Olean Times Herald would have died along with Fred. Instead, it's still going 20 years later. Deepest condolences to Betty and the rest of his family.

Although our paths crossed rarely, I considered Steve Eaton a close personal friend, as I suspect did everyone who knew him at all well, and I feel his loss deeply. His absence will represent a serious blow to western New York botany and ornithology. I offer my condolences to Betty.

How can I say how sorry I am that one of the most important people in my life has passed on. We started the Cattaraugus county Bird Club together over 40 years ago and it is still going strong. Learning from Doc in his ornithology class at St. Bonaventure is probably the most exciting class I've ever taken. I miss the birding and the joint celebration of our wedding anniversaries. We send our love to Betty and share in her loss. Regina, Jim, Meredith, & Ardyth VanScoy.

Steve Eaton, like his dad the great ornithologist Elon Howard Eaton, was also a great collector and preparator of bird specimens, which he used in his own research and to teach Ornithology at St. Bonaventure. Upon his retirement Steve gave the SBU bird specimen collection to the New York State Museum, where I am now Curator of Birds. Some years later Elon Eaton's specimen collection was donated to the NYSM by Hobart and William Smith Colleges, and now birds prepared by father and son reside...

We were blessed for a number of years to have our tent next to Steve's at the farmers' market, where we built a friendship and shared many conversations and stories. He was a wonderful man, and we will miss him.