Joel Minet sent me an email announcing the passing of Claude Lemaire and added:
"He will be inhumed (February 11) at Père-Lachaise cemetery (F-75020 Paris). His wife Ludmilla (Nelda) is now alone in a large house (La Croix des Baux, F-84220 Gordes)... and all of us will miss Claude: a friend and an entomologist of the first rank."
I have acquired some of Claude Lemaire's great works:
Attacinae 1978
Arsenurinae 1980
Ceratocampinae 1987
Hemileucinae 2002.
I am in awe of the scope of his efforts regarding Saturniidae.
His books are a must for anyone maintaining a serious collection, and I had written him in appreciation about a month before his passing. My condolences to all who lost a close friend.
The listings of North, Central and South American Saturniidae on the WLSS are validated by his works.
Tributes, by those who knew Claude Lemaire personally, are posted below:
Robert Weast
"The passing of longtime friend Claude Lemaire was a sad moment
for all of us who enjoyed the fruits of his lifetime of
dedicated devotion.
"I had been supplying Claude with cocoons and
specimens, and, when I was on sabbatical leave in 1966 from Drake
University, Claude graciously invited my wife and me for a
wonderful repast of French cuisine in his Paris apartment.
"After dinner and great conversation we looked over some of his
collection; an entire wall was covered from floor to ceiling with
moths from all over the world. Claude was a lawyer and selflessly
he helped me in a legal matter during my sojourn in Paris.
"I am very honored that he selected for publication a male
Rothschildia cincta which I had collected in the
Baboquivari Mountains of Arizona.
I mailed to him this beautiful moth which was lured to and mated
with a R. lebeau forbesi female from Texas. Claude was
delighted to receive it and said, 'It is the only Arizona cincta
I have in my collection.' Truly, he was a giant and will never be
forgotten."
Robert Weast, Johnston, Iowa
John Ciseski
"I was very fortunate to get to know Claude through
another great Saturniidae man Kirby Wolfe. Claude would always take
the time to answer any question that I might have, and actually send
any specimens that he had spares of to add to one's collection.
"I only had a few years to get to know him and I will miss him very
much. His work stands alone, that of a GIANT that will be missed very
dearly by all that call themselves entomologists."
John Ciseski, Wisconsin
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