Rich Glinski |
| Posted 2025-03-09 by Pat R |
| Wickenburg Sun (Wickenburg, Arizona) Wednesday, February 12, 2025, p. A-6 Rich Glinski, an ecologist, biologist, ornithologist, humanitarian, author, editor, son, brother, father, grandfather. He had so much life to still live, knowledge to still give and field work to still be done. From his ongoing work with Caracaras, to the study of Gray Hawks, his second novel was almost done, and his grown children and grandchildren he was very involved with, Rich left his daily affairs right as they were when Jesus called him home Jan. 24, 2025. Rich was born on March 5, 1950, in East Chicago, Ind. to Mary Anne (Timko) and Ted Jack Glinski. He was the oldest of six children. The Glinskis moved to Tucson, Ariz. in 1968 during Rich's senior year of high school where he attended and graduated from Palo Verde High School. He went to the University of Arizona, receiving his bachelor's degree in Wildlife Biology in 1972. He then attended Arizona State University where he was working on his master's degree, under Dr. Robert Ohmart, as a raptor (bird of prey) biologist. Some of his early studies took him from the Aleutian Islands to the southern tip of Argentina. For his masters project, he did a raptor study, and piloted a "Cessna 182" plane over almost all the creeks and rivers in Arizona. He was mapping the raptor's nests throughout the state. In 1979, returning from South America, he married Patricia Conley (Glinski) and both biologists joined The Game and Fish Department, where Rich started as a game specialist and Patricia became the research and non-game program manager. The couple moved from Mesa to Wickenburg in 1982. They played a major part in creating the Hassayampa River Preserve, the Cottonwood/Willow Forest and above-ground spring in Wickenburg in 1985. That same year, his daughter was born and a few years later his son was born. They remember family outings in the G&F patrol vehicle and camping, as their dad enriched their lives in any way he could, and he loved teaching them all about wildlife. In the 90s, though the marriage ended, he stayed in Wickenburg, close to his children and was at every life event they had. He attended and was elder at the Wickenburg Community Alliance Church and was best friends to Paul Harn. He co-wrote and was editor for three highly regarded southwestern bird of prey books. He retired in 2000 from the Game and Fish Department after 20 years. While preserving our most wonderful desert land for all future generations to come he went on to work for Maricopa County Parks, as director of the Desert Outdoor Center at Lake Pleasant. His legacy there will live on. Rich's love for the southern Arizona grasslands took him back to Arivaca upon his retirement in November 2016. Rich spent the last nine years being semi-retired, not stepping away from the conservation or the study of birds. He loved helping the next generation of biologists. But mostly, he'd like working on his home and sending videos to his grandchildren about a bug, bird, or deer that was in his backyard that he wanted to show them. They'll forever remember their grandpa through those personal videos where he'd call out each of their names. He was preceded in death by his mother, Mary Anne. He was survived by his 98-year-old father, Ted (Eurayne) Glinski; siblings, David, Jim, Alice, Fred, and John. He is also survived by his children, Hannah (Matt) Heineman, Harlan (Rachel) Glinski; and seven grandchildren (Adah, Jase, and Ruth Heineman. Harlan, Olanna, Hayden, and Harvey Glinski) plus countless friends. A memorial service will be held on Feb. 19, 2025 at 11 a.m., Adair Funeral Homes-Avalon Chapel, 8090 N. Northern Ave., Oro Valley, AZ 85704. Flowers and good wishes can be sent there. |
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