DONORS:

Peter Devers, Alicia Pickett-Hale and the New York State Falconers

Association and New York Falconers: Nancy Murtlow, Christina

Zumwalt, Walter and Roseanne Mills, Leah Valerio, Ronald Hanson,

Jim Webber, Edward Stephenson, Steven Wines, Andrew Schmalfuss

Jr., Hank Minor, Joe Shoemaker, Matthew Vercant, Sean O’Mahoney,

Scott McNeff, Connecticut Falconers Association, Maine Falconry

and Raptor Conservancy

REMEMBERING OUR FRIEND

with passage gos and falcons throughout his life. Ed is one of

the few eastern falconers who campaigned western grouse

successfully with his hybrid and Briany spaniel.

Ed’s skills in animal husbandry led him to successfully breed

both goshawks and falcons. Ed worked hand in hand with

his lifelong friend Vic Hardaswick to breed several different

subspecies of goshawks.

Ed mastered the art of making Dutch hoods. He perfected

two lines of these hoods for falcons and goshawks. He also

made and marketed both English and Arab style blocks.

Ed was a

master

falconer for

more than

30 years.

He was an

accomplished

woodcarver,

made Dutch

hoods and was

(Hepp) Gravenkemper.

Ed graduated from Hawthorne High School in 1955, attended Paul Smith’s

College for Forestry, and served as a Paratrooper in the Airborne division with the

U.S. Army. Starting in tree surgery, he was a professional land surveyor for most

of his working career. He was Master Falconer for more 30 years, one of the first

NYSFA Presidents, a long-standing member of the North American Falconers

Association, the first falconry sponsor in the N.Y.S., and taught a number of

apprentices over the years. Ed was also an accomplished wood carver starting the

Cambridge Rocking Horse Company for many of his creations, including the

hare that is part of the Adirondack Carousel in Saranac Lake, NY. He was one of

grandchildren Olivia Quillio, Madeleine Quillio, Josephine Schmuhl, Q. “Gus”

Wright, B. Simone Schmuhl, and Arthur Wright.

Ed was a founding member of the New York State Falconry Association, was one

of its first presidents and was well known throughout the country. He had the

honor to be the first falconer in New York state to sponsor an apprentice after

working diligently to legalize falconry for all.

A falconer since age 11, he flew birds his entire life, including while in the Army in

1957. An amazing artist, his hoods and block perches were of outstanding quality

and durability. He was always willing to lend a hand to those who wished to learn

and listen. Many NY falconers have Ed to thank for their falconry knowledge.