On April 10, 2016, a gathering was held to celebrate Lou’s life and dedicate many new bird boxes and signs given in his honor.
Remarks by Fred Spar in Lou's memory
We give special thanks to a dear friend, a man much beloved in the birding world, and I’m sure, if we understood their language, in the world of birds as well – Lou Beck. I don’t know exactly when we first met Lou, but Winnie and I have walked through the refuge and the woods with him, exchanged notes on sightings, and joined with Christmas Counts and Bird-a-thons he helped organize for the better part of three decades. His kindness, his patience, his love of birds and his joy in sharing that with so many people were admired by all who knew him. As President of the Washington Crossing Audubon Society he was a strong advocate for the birds and habitat preservation, and his impact was especially present in the many Audubon Society projects here at the Refuge that I just mentioned.
We give special thanks to a dear friend, a man much beloved in the birding world, and I’m sure, if we understood their language, in the world of birds as well – Lou Beck. I don’t know exactly when we first met Lou, but Winnie and I have walked through the refuge and the woods with him, exchanged notes on sightings, and joined with Christmas Counts and Bird-a-thons he helped organize for the better part of three decades. His kindness, his patience, his love of birds and his joy in sharing that with so many people were admired by all who knew him. As President of the Washington Crossing Audubon Society he was a strong advocate for the birds and habitat preservation, and his impact was especially present in the many Audubon Society projects here at the Refuge that I just mentioned.
It is a small gesture of thanks that today we dedicate a trail of Bluebird houses, Wood Duck boxes, homes for Tree Swallows, and a beautiful summer resort complex for Purple Martins to honor his memory. Not sure if our birds really distinguish between the Motel Sixes which remain out there and the Ritz Carltons we have built, but we hope we’ve created and enhanced a welcoming space for them. And we hope that when you see a pair of Bluebirds or a colony of Martins out there around the marsh, you’ll tip your cap and honor the memory of Lou Beck. And to the Beck Family, thank you for sharing Lou with us and for honoring us today with your presence.
It is our great pleasure to establish this memorial in Lou’s memory and to recognize it on the plaque on the platform which reads:
LOU BECK MEMORIAL
Nesting boxes for Purple Martins, Tree Swallows, Bluebirds and Wood Ducks, placed throughout the refuge as well as in the Institute Woods, are dedicated to the memory of Lou Beck, former President of Washington Crossing Audubon Society, who led regular walks through this area and introduced many people to the pleasures of birding. He was devoted to the preservation of this Refuge and habitats for birds.