On September 21, 2015, the NOU and the conservation community lost a good friend with the passing of Roland Barth. Barth served 30 years as a meteorologist in the US Air Force, achieving the rank of Colonel. Retirement allowed Roland to pursue his interest in nature and use his considerable leadership and organizational skills for the benefit of a number of conservation groups. He was a member of the Nebraska Ornithologists’ Union for over 20 years and served a term as Director from 2008 to 2011

Ratzlaff, Neal

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University of Nebraska - Lincoln 
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Nebraska Bird Review Nebraska Ornithologists' Union 
9-2015 
In Memory of Roland E. Barth 
Neal Ratzlaff 
Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/nebbirdrev 
 Part of the Ornithology Commons, Poultry or Avian Science Commons, and the Zoology Commons 
This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Nebraska Ornithologists' Union at 
DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Nebraska Bird Review by 
an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. 
Ratzlaff, "In Memory of Roland E. Barth," from Nebraska Bird Review (September 2015) 83(3). 
Copyright 2015 Nebraska Ornithologists’ Union. Used by permission.
150 The Nebraska Bird Review Vol. 83 No.3 
Roland enjoyed walking and could reliably be found on the trails at 
Fontenelle Forest carrying his binoculars and, most notably, his camera. In response 
to questions about plant identification from visitors, Roland began photographing 
plants and placing photographs in a reference notebook on the admissions desk at the 
Forest. Roland's fertile mind was always brimming with ideas, one of those being 
how nice it would be to have a book that would include all the plants in it. So when 
funds became available he and a friend with a long-time interest in plants, whom 
Roland had already recruited for work on the notebook, co-authored two field 
guides: Wildflowers of Fontenelle Forest and Neale Woods (2003) and Trees, 
Shrubs, Woody Vines, Grasses, Sedges and Rushes of Fontenelle Forest and Neale 
Woods (2007). But Roland wasn't done. During the production of the book, the 
'digital revolution' progressed to mobile devices, and a new vision surfaced, one 
that involved images and descriptions not just of plants, but of ALL species and 
could be accessed via the internet. More friends who possessed cameras and an 
interest in natural history were recruited, first for suggestions which went into a 
website which he designed for Fontenelle Forest and later for photos and 
descriptions of plants and animals occurring within the boundaries of Fontenelle 
Forest and Neale Woods. The site, fnanaturesearch.org, now contains over 2000 
individual species accounts, each with one to several accompanying photos. 
Retirement provided time for travel which included extended trips 
worldwide with his spouse, Ingrid, and numerous "grandparent" trips to visit his son 
and daughter and their families. There were birding trips to Texas, Arizona and the 
Nebraska Sandhills with three other retired friends who bore the self-designated title 
"good old boys". Another significant post-retirement pursuit was genealogy, and 
his legacy includes a meticulously researched and detailed family history he 
produced for his children. 
Roland attended the New Jersey Institute of Technology graduating with a 
bachelor of science degree. Later he obtained a master of science degree from the 
University of Utah. At NJIT, he was a four year starter on the soccer team which, in 
1959, reached the NAIA national tournament for the first time in school history. 
Following his senior season he was a second team All American selection and was 
invited to try out for the Pan-American games US national team. He was also a 
silver medalist on a fencing team which won the conference tournament title. In 
2009 Roland was inducted into the NJIT Athletics Hall of Fame for his achievements 
in soccer and fencing. 
Roland is survived by Ingrid, his wife of 53 years, son, daughter and 
grandchildren. Inurnment was at Arlington National Cemetery 


In Memory of Roland E. Barth

DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska

University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Nebraska Bird Review Nebraska Ornithologists' Union 9-2015 In Memory of Roland E. Barth Neal Ratzlaff Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/nebbirdrev  Part of the Ornithology Commons, Poultry or Avian Science Commons, and the Zoology Commons This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Nebraska Ornithologists' Union at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Nebraska Bird Review by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Ratzlaff, "In Memory of Roland E. Barth," from Nebraska Bird Review (September 2015) 83(3). Copyright 2015 Nebraska Ornithologists’ Union. Used by permission.150 The Nebraska Bird Review Vol. 83 No.3 Roland enjoyed walking and could reliably be found on the trails at Fontenelle Forest carrying his binoculars and, most notably, his camera. In response to questions about plant identification from visitors, Roland began photographing plants and placing photographs in a reference notebook on the admissions desk at the Forest. Roland's fertile mind was always brimming with ideas, one of those being how nice it would be to have a book that would include all the plants in it. So when funds became available he and a friend with a long-time interest in plants, whom Roland had already recruited for work on the notebook, co-authored two field guides: Wildflowers of Fontenelle Forest and Neale Woods (2003) and Trees, Shrubs, Woody Vines, Grasses, Sedges and Rushes of Fontenelle Forest and Neale Woods (2007). But Roland wasn't done. During the production of the book, the 'digital revolution' progressed to mobile devices, and a new vision surfaced, one that involved images and descriptions not just of plants, but of ALL species and could be accessed via the internet. More friends who possessed cameras and an interest in natural history were recruited, first for suggestions which went into a website which he designed for Fontenelle Forest and later for photos and descriptions of plants and animals occurring within the boundaries of Fontenelle Forest and Neale Woods. The site, fnanaturesearch.org, now contains over 2000 individual species accounts, each with one to several accompanying photos. Retirement provided time for travel which included extended trips worldwide with his spouse, Ingrid, and numerous "grandparent" trips to visit his son and daughter and their families. There were birding trips to Texas, Arizona and the Nebraska Sandhills with three other retired friends who bore the self-designated title "good old boys". Another significant post-retirement pursuit was genealogy, and his legacy includes a meticulously researched and detailed family history he produced for his children. Roland attended the New Jersey Institute of Technology graduating with a bachelor of science degree. Later he obtained a master of science degree from the University of Utah. At NJIT, he was a four year starter on the soccer team which, in 1959, reached the NAIA national tournament for the first time in school history. Following his senior season he was a second team All American selection and was invited to try out for the Pan-American games US national team. He was also a silver medalist on a fencing team which won the conference tournament title. In 2009 Roland was inducted into the NJIT Athletics Hall of Fame for his achievements in soccer and fencing. Roland is survived by Ingrid, his wife of 53 years, son, daughter and grandchildren. Inurnment was at Arlington National Cemetery 

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In Memory of Roland E. Barth

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