Taxacom: Vale Stephen Thorpe

[Dilrukshan Wijesinghe]

Stephen’s iNaturalist observations (https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.inaturalist.org%2Fobservations%3Fplace_id%3Dany%26subview%3Dmap%26user_id%3Dstephen_thorpe%26verifiable%3Dany&data=05%7C02%7Ctaxacom%40lists.ku.edu%7C95c76fefc7d649676c1908dcc5e18c52%7C3c176536afe643f5b96636feabbe3c1a%7C0%7C0%7C638602819733303101%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=w4B70e3og2oIb62EhwL0Mks%2FNkdfrVOuenTTmFxG1lA%3D&reserved=0) in Map view reveal how focused he was on New Zealand with regard to his natural history interest; I was surprised there were none even from Australia, for example. The majority of his iN observations are from NZ’s North Island, with a vast number from around Auckland.

As an enthusiastic iNatter & iNaturalist supporter myself (but very far from Stephen’s class, of course!), I am conscious how revealing the locations of our iN observations can be, certainly with regard to the places we frequent; they perhaps even show something of a pattern (days, times). If observations are posted in real time that could serve as a means of locating the observer. For this reason when I introduced iN to my cousin in Australia (an adventurous spirit who is often oblivious of potential dangers) I specifically warned her not to post in real time, especially when she was out in the field alone. (Which itself can be dangerous, especially for females - it shouldn’t be so, but unfortunately that is the reality in many places.)

Those of us who read Stephen Thorpe’s posts & replies here in Taxacom with great interest, sometimes even with consternation, and perhaps felt we knew him (even though we had never met him) sadly discover a little more about him from newspaper reports of this tragedy [e.g. https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Fnz%2Fblockhouse-bay-homicide-victim-was-killed-in-random-attack-on-his-daily-walk-to-look-for-insects%2F22T7WRVRIJDY3CAAO44LFK4VLE%2F&data=05%7C02%7Ctaxacom%40lists.ku.edu%7C95c76fefc7d649676c1908dcc5e18c52%7C3c176536afe643f5b96636feabbe3c1a%7C0%7C0%7C638602819733303101%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=lmhBswWrwB%2FvZPvAfacCMB7cndYfuRUmtllDvVByyZE%3D&reserved=0]. 


Priyantha 



Sent from my iPhone

> On Aug 26, 2024, at 8:05 AM, Francisco Welter-Schultes via Taxacom <taxacom at lists.ku.edu> wrote:
> 
> Hard to find words. Very sad. Stephen will be missed.
> 
> Francisco
> 
>> Am 26.08.2024 um 01:44 schrieb Geoff Read via Taxacom:
>> Dear all,
>> It is with great sadness that today I inform you that Stephen Thorpe has
>> died (a homicide) in Auckland, New Zealand.Stephen was a unique person who
>> greatly enriched Taxacom with his lively contributions, depth of knowledge,
>> and tenacious advance of strong opinions.He was also incredibly dedicated
>> to entomology and to working on online platforms like Wikipedia and
>> iNaturalist.
>> We know because he told us so that he was bordering on autistic, and we
>> have seen over the years how this affected his success in his professional
>> working life.He kept doing the work he loved nevertheless. The news story
>> paints a picture of his daily life in recent times.
>> We will much miss Stephen's contributions to our list.  Goodbye Stephen.
>> You were always good value to argue with.
>> https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.inaturalist.org%2Fpeople%2Fstephen_thorpe&data=05%7C02%7Ctaxacom%40lists.ku.edu%7C95c76fefc7d649676c1908dcc5e18c52%7C3c176536afe643f5b96636feabbe3c1a%7C0%7C0%7C638602819733303101%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=yM8xy7%2FRptLQmfYm6AEUy6ia083Od1qRGDWbq6x%2FIoo%3D&reserved=0
>> https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Fnz%2Fblockhouse-bay-homicide-police-reveal-victim-stephen-thorpes-last-movements-before-violent-struggle%2F2TYZKGASUNCBPPGZLWMP3UF33Q%2F&data=05%7C02%7Ctaxacom%40lists.ku.edu%7C95c76fefc7d649676c1908dcc5e18c52%7C3c176536afe643f5b96636feabbe3c1a%7C0%7C0%7C638602819733303101%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=EV9cSEU91EAjXAhv15lb8JbEhlter5FQ1yk9gSL%2BqOY%3D&reserved=0
>> Geoff Read
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> Nurturing nuance while assailing ambiguity for about 37 years, 1987-2024.
> 
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