Otto Swaboda at Educational Fishing Event 2004

I would like to call your attention to the recent loss of one of our county's native sons, Otto Swoboda. Otto comes from generations of Northern Virginians. He served his country in WWII, made a living for his devoted wife, Louis and five children and proudly lived to see many grandchildren. He loved to garden and was actively engaged in his community, volunteering with St. Vincent de Paul and the Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge.

Otto had a life-long deep respect and connection to nature that was held by so many of his generation. In Otto's 81 years on this earth there has been a fundamental shift away from the land. We no longer need to farm for subsistence, to hunt or fish, to watch the signals in nature that tell us when to plant or harvest, whether to predict a harsh winter or when to know that the local berry patch is ready for picking. Otto had this wealth of knowledge of the natural world and he shared it with us.

Lucky for us, Otto felt a deep conviction to preserving special places where nature could run its course - National Wildlife Refuges.  We are blessed here in Northern Virginia with three- Elizabeth Hartwell Mason Neck, Featherstone, and Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge's (NWRs). 

Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, in Woodbridge, VA, was blessed with Otto Swoboda. For 10 years, Otto was the face of that refuge, volunteering thousands of hours. Otto's smile would greet visitors at the gate- giving directions, answering questions, pointing out wildlife, and if you were really lucky you'd get a story or two. Mr. Swoboda exemplified the guiding principles of the National Wildlife Refuge System "land steward, guided by Aldo Leopold's teachings that land is a community of life and that love and respect for the land is an extension of ethics". The refuge system seeks to reflect that land ethic in its stewardship and to instill it in others. That philosophy was instilled into the core of Otto and it naturally exuded from him as he greeted visitors he met.

Rachael Carson, remarkable conservationist and former U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service employee wrote of the "blue goose", the symbol of the National Wildlife Refuge System, "whenever you meet this sign, respect it. It means the land behind the sign has been dedicated by the American people to preserving, for themselves and their children, as much as can be retained along with our modern civilization". Otto's respect for this symbol was absolute. So much so that his family requested he be buried with his volunteer hat and vest, proudly displaying the symbol of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Rest in peace Otto. My prayer is that your loved ones will take comfort in your memory and that those you have touched so significantly will continue your work as guardians of these special wild places. With shrinking federal budgets and staffing cuts there are many volunteer openings at the Potomac River Refuge Complex, one special spot at the visitors gate is now vacant- for that one, very big shoes will need to be filled!

Annette Baker-Toole President Friends of the Potomac River Refuges