Author, Wildlife Photographer Robert W. Durant Passed Away

Ridgefield, CT — Robert W. Durant, avid outdoorsman, naturalist, author, and wildlife photographer, passed away the afternoon of July 4th, 2016 following a period of declining health.

Robert was born and raised in Ridgefield, Conn. where he developed a love of and appreciation for the natural world. He spent his early years appreciating all the sounds of nature and learning about animals, plants and insects. Hunting and fishing were his early favorite pastimes.

He became a teacher and taught elementary school for many years in Connecticut where he taught history, reading and math. As Connecticut became more populated, he moved to Lancaster, N.H. in 1969, which he called home for more than 50 years. He continued his teaching career in Lancaster teaching junior high math and retired from teaching in 1986.

Robert was an accomplished drummer with a passion for music. He toured the Pacific, Caribbean and Europe with the US Army Jazz Band during his time in the service. When he moved to Lancaster, he played drums in a number of rock country, and classic rock bands until the mid-90s. Robert’s talent and technique often drew other drummers to his shows looking for pointers and helpful tips.

Robert had countless hobbies over the years, all of which he became incredibly proficient at before putting each to rest to move on to the next. This is not to say he was a “natural” at anything. Mr. Durant worked tirelessly, putting in countless hours to hone each of his crafts until he was an expert in each! He was an entirely self-taught, wildlife pen and ink and watercolor artist, expert tier of trout, salmon, and bass flies, relief wood carver and builder of train boards. He met each endeavor with an unparalleled level of intensity and desire to perfect every minute detail, down to the miniature trees and people in his elaborate model train stations.

Robert’s favorite trout stream in Lancaster was the Israel’s River, and after his retirement, he became fascinated with all of the many plants, animals and insects that inhabited the river and its banks. He soon began a daily walk of a two mile stretch of the river near his home in Lancaster, capturing a photographic record of all of the animals, insects and plants that called the river and its banks home. His daily walks became the focal point of his days, and he could be found on the river every day in all seasons and weather conditions. He spent eight years taking these daily nature walks, only stopping in the final month of his life.

During his life Mr. Durant amassed an impressive collection of the photographs he took on his walk of all species and their interactions, with diaries detailing each day’s walk and the species he photographed, their life cycle as well as their place in the natural world. He was previously a contributing writer for local area newspapers, and has published five photographic books on topics including the Lancaster area and its beautiful remote wilderness.

In 2016, Mr. Durant gifted a 10-acre parcel of land in Jefferson, N.H. to the NH Fish and Game Department. Purchased by Mr. Durant in 1977, the land lies at the convergence of Israel’s River and Stalbird Brook. Designated as the Robert Durant Natural Area by NH Fish and Game, unlimited access is provided for anglers, wildlife watchers and people of all ages to enjoy this parcel of undisturbed land. To quote Mr. Durant: “Everyone should have a cherished piece of planet Earth that they visit regularly to study.”

In his will, Mr. Durant has asked that his entire estate be liquidated and the proceeds donated to the Wildlife Heritage Foundation of NH. His diaries, photographs, books and sketches, along with the copyrights to his five books will be used to further the education and enjoyment of fellow nature enthusiasts.

To fulfill Mr. Durant’s deepest wish to use his life’s work to foster a love of earth’s abundant beauty in children, the Foundation has established the Robert Durant Fund. The Foundation will use the proceeds in the coming years to support youth educational programs through the NH Fish and Game Department to provide opportunities for children in New Hampshire to understand and appreciate the interdependency of all classes of species and the need for their conservation and the stewardship of our natural world.

Mr. Durant has requested no formal services for his passing. It is requested that those wishing to remember him contribute to the Robert Durant Fund, administered by the Wildlife Heritage Foundation of New Hampshire, PO Box 3993,Concord, NH 03302. The Cremation Society of NH is assisting with arrangements. For more information or to leave a message of condolence please go to www.csnh.com.

Obituary courtesy of Cremation Society of New Hampshire