Herbert Leon Cilley
STRAFFORD - Herbert Leon Cilley, "the Loon Ranger," of Bow Lake, slipped peacefully away Monday, May 16, 2005, with members of his family at his side.
The oldest son of Leon and Hattie (Dudley) Cilley, Herb was born Jan. 1, 1924, in Concord.
He graduated from Concord High School in 1942 and married Bernice May "Bunny" Gould in 1946.
Following his graduation from the University of New Hampshire in 1948 with a bachelor's degree in forestry, he and Bunny moved to Watertown, N.Y., where he was Jefferson County 4-H Club agent from 1951 to 1959. During the summers, he and Bunny enjoyed 4-H Camp Wabasso on Millsite Lake, with Herb as camp director and Bunny as waterfront director.
They returned to New Hampshire in 1962, for Herb to get his master's degree in botany from the University of New Hampshire in 1965.
He worked for the University of New Hampshire for the next 16 years, first as greenhouse superintendent and then as assistant director of physical plant operations.
Deeply involved in Boy Scouts for decades, he received the Silver Beaver award in 1970. Active in Rotary, he was president of Durham-Dover Rotary in 1982 and 1983 and was named a Paul Harris Fellow in 1989.
Bunny predeceased him in 1984.
He began his long association with loons and loon preservation in the early 1980s, when he and Bunny lived on Bow Lake.
In 1986, he married (Dorothy) Anne Nickerson, who ably assisted him in his efforts. He received many awards and commendations for his work with loons, including: the Loon Ranger award from the Loon Preservation Committee in 1990, the first "Outstanding Friend of the Loon" award from the North American Loon fund in 1991, the Daughters of the American Revolution conservation award in 2000, and the David Brower Outstanding Conservationist award from the Sierra Club in 2001.
He enjoyed a 1994 feature article in Yankee magazine, an appearance on Good Morning America, and working with filmmakers from New Hampshire Public Television, the BBC and others to film the loons on Bow Lake.
He is particularly well-known for his volunteer work, taking people in his boat to view loons and chicks up close; more than 1,700 people from 46 states, 28 countries and every continent accompanied him on the lake. An educator at heart, he presented hundreds of video programs to schoolchildren and adults and wrote more than 80 "Letters to Garth" published in the Suncook Valley Sun chronicling loon activity on Bow Lake.
In 2000, Herb and Anne made their extensive collection of birding and conservation books available to the public by donating it, as well as a new wing, to the Hill Library of Strafford.
Anne predeceased him in November 2004.
He is survived by twin sons, David Cilley of Saranac Lake, N.Y., and Dean Cilley and his wife, Sue, of Yarmouth, Maine; a daughter, Judith Kelsea, and her husband, Russell, of Lincoln, Neb.; a stepson, Douglas Nickerson of Dover; five grandchildren, Garth and Evelyn Cilley of Saranac Lake, N.Y., Tom and Jim Kelsea of Lincoln, Neb., and Rebecca Colley and her husband, Sean, of Enoch, Utah; and one great-granddaughter, Carolina May Colley of Enoch, Utah. He is also survived by one brother, Charles Cilley of Carol Stream, Ill.; and was predeceased by a second brother, Dr. Richard M. Cilley of Williamsburg, Va.
The family would especially like to thank the staff at Langdon Place of Dover for their wonderful care of Herb during his residence in the facility.
Calling hours will be held tomorrow at 9:30 a.m. at Purdy Memorial Chapel in Lee.
Memorial services will follow at 10:30 a.m. at the memorial chapel.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Loon Preservation Committee, P.O. Box 604, Moultonboro 03245.
For more information, visit http://www.purdyfuneralservice.com.
Published in the Concord Monitor (NH) - May 24, 2005
HERBERT L. CILLEY CAMP DIRECTOR, LOON RANGER
Herbert Leon Cilley, 81, Bow Lake, N.H., formerly of Watertown, died Monday at Langdon Place, Dover, N.H.
Mr. Cilley worked for the University of New Hampshire, Durham, for 16 years, first as greenhouse superintendent and then as assistant director of physical plant operations.
He was involved in the Boy Scouts of America for decades, receiving the Silver Beaver award in 1970. Active in Rotary, he was president of Durham-Dover Rotary from 1982 to 1983 and was named a Paul Harris Fellow in 1989.
He began a long association with loons and loon preservation in the early 1980s while living on Bow Lake. He received many awards and commendations for his work with loons, including the Loon Ranger award from the Loon Preservation Committee of New Hampshire in 1990, the first "Outstanding Friend of the Loon" award from the North American Loon Fund in 1991, the Daughters of the American Revolution conservation award in 2000, and the David Brower Outstanding Conservationist award from the Sierra Club in 2001. He was the subject of a 1994 feature article in Yankee magazine, made an appearance on "Good Morning America," and worked with filmmakers from New Hampshire public television, BBC and others to film the loons on Bow Lake.
He was well-known for his volunteer work, taking people in his boat to view loons and chicks up close; more than 1,700 people from 46 states, 28 countries and every continent accompanied him on the lake. An educator, he presented hundreds of video programs to schoolchildren and adults and wrote more than 80 "Letters to Garth" published in the Suncook Valley Sun, chronicling loon activity on Bow Lake.
Born Jan. 1, 1924, in Concord, N.H., eldest son of Leon and Hattie Dudley Cilley, he graduated from Concord High School in 1942 and from the University of New Hampshire in 1948 with a bachelor of science degree in forestry. In 1965, he received a master's degree in botany from the University of New Hampshire.
Mr. Cilley married Bernice May "Bunny" Gould in 1946. In 1948, they moved to Watertown, where he was Jefferson County 4-H Club agent from 1951 to 1959. Mr. and Mrs. Cilley spent summers at 4-H Camp Wabasso on Millsite Lake, Theresa, where Mr. Cilley was camp director and Mrs. Cilley was waterfront director. They returned to New Hampshire in 1962. Mrs. Cilley died in 1984.
In 1986, he married Dorothy "Anne" Nickerson, who assisted him in his efforts to preserve the loons of Bow Lake. In 2000, Mr. and Mrs. Cilley made their extensive collection of birding and conservation books available to the public by donating it, as well as a new wing, to Hill Library of Strafford, N.H. Mrs. Cilley died in November.
Surviving are twin sons and a daughter-in-law, David, Saranac Lake, and Dean and Sue, Yarmouth, Maine; a daughter and her husband, Judith and Russell Kelsea, Lincoln, Neb.; a stepson, Douglas Nickerson, Dover; a brother, Charles, Carol Stream, Ill., five grandchildren and a great-granddaughter.
A brother, Dr. Richard M., died before him.
A memorial service will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Purdy Memorial Chapel, Lee, N.H.
A calling hour will begin at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Donations may be made to the Loon Preservation Committee, P.O. Box 604, Moultonborough, N.H. 03245. For more information or to send condolences, go to www.purdyfuneralservice.com.
Published in the Watertown Daily Times (NY) - May 20, 2005
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