I last spent time with Emma on a UChicago Desert Southwest field trip - a trip familiar to many. In June 2009, there was a love affair with the desert, with cameos from the legendary Eric Larsen, Emma his sidekick/expert ornithologist, and a bunch of undergrads who made dinner for us (grad student TAs) after we drove them halfway across the country.

Through years of grad school together, Emma was a lovable goofball who lit up a party, or coffee break in the Lillie room. 

I’m so glad to know more about the exceptional and loving life she led. 

UChicago Desert Ecology Field Trip

I want to share another memory, and this one was harder to sit with, but still so beautiful. The last time I talked to Emma on the phone (a group call with me, Kristin, and Cedar a few weeks ago), I asked her what I can do that would be actually helpful at this stage in her illness. She said “just be a friend”. I’ve thought about that so much since. I imagine she said this to others, and I know she didn’t mean it to be deep life advice, but it was for me. Everyday it’s come up for me, am I avoiding someone who I have a complicated relationship with, or am I being a friend? Am I reaching out to someone purely for my own benefit, or am I reaching out to be a friend? That little bit of advice was a reflection of that essential trait of Emma’s - easy and instinctive realness. It also spoke directly to my current journey - trying my darnedest to drop ego and pretense in my life and work and focus on living a beautiful life. In her last few weeks as many of us sent Emma photos, memories, and stories, she causally said that this or that small memory that we shared with her “helped complete her amazing life”.  I’m not sure I could say this about myself or any other person in their 40s, but Emma really did live a full-to-the-brim, beautiful, and amazing life. 

The news of Emma's passing hit me hard and fast and my heart immediately cried out for her family.  Thank you for sharing her with us. Emma did, and continues, to inspire me. Although a lot of our work with citizen science has looked at the data that it provides to scientists and the outcomes for the citizen scientists themselves, Emma always revealed to me that the scientists themselves are equally affected. I asked her once how I should respond to someone who said "I can only participate in feeder watch for a couple weeks this winter so I am not sure if I should!"  She revealed her joy exuberantly as she expressed being  thrilled with even a single contribution because it was more information than she otherwise would have had. Her joy and amazement in her work naturally nurtured all those around her to participate and encouraged them to recognize their own value in her eyes.  

It's hard to even find the words to express how much Emma will be missed. She was one of my first friends in Ithaca, introducing herself as the girl with two first names in the funny way that only Emma could do. Emma welcomed me to Ithaca and to the Lab. From fun dance parties at the house, whiskey drinking on the back porch, canoeing in the ADKs, to so many other fun times she was the light that brought people together. When Emma and Krishna reconnected at our house, I was super excited for them. I couldn't think of two better people to be together. It sort of felt like we were joining our families too, from the early years when Noky and Krishna hung out with the kids at eco-village to now with Emma and Veda. I'm going to miss Emma, her don't worry about it attitude, and her sparkle so much. We are family and you know we will always be there. 

Emma was the kind of colleague whose door was always open for a question or conversation. I will miss Emma's clear-eyed and helpful input, always delivered with a dose of humor. She was so smart, but also unassuming and humble. My favorite memory was meeting Veda for the first time in their home and seeing how lovingly Emma looked at her new baby. Her wit, intellect, and sense of style will be missed in our halls for a very long time.

My heartfelt condolences to her family on this incomprehensible loss. 

I wish I could think of a story that captures Emma’s essence. She was a beautiful spirit, full of joy and compassion. As my supervisor for the past 10+ years, she was smart and decisive, practical and encouraging. She was brilliant at zeroing in on what really matters. She saw obstacles as puzzles to be solved and was eager for us to bring puzzles to her so that she could help solve them. As I struggle to understand how she could be gone, I keep thinking of her kindness and her positive spirit, and I am hoping I can keep some of that energy in the world in her honor.

My deepest sympathy to the family through this unimaginable loss.

My goodness, what a loss. It’s difficult to envision a world without Emma’s light in it. She had such an endearing and rare combination of attributes- unassuming, but also impossibly badass. An intellectual heavyweight, but also somehow the coolest person in the room. She had the kind of easygoing cool that you can’t fake. No facade, no pretenses, Emma was just her genuine, lovely self every time I was lucky enough to be around her.

I was fortunate to work closely with her as a labmate on several fairywren projects over the years. I have many fond memories of time spent in the field in Australia, writing papers together, and hanging out at conferences. As with all of us, I’m sure, I consider myself blessed to have known her. It was an absolute joy catching up with her only just recently at the AOS meeting in Colorado and meeting her beautiful family. My heart breaks for them and they have my deepest condolences.

Emma was such a dear friend and a centerpiece of my postdoc at the lab. We’d often get coffee and lunch, walk the trails at Sapsucker, and talk about gossip or anything not work-related. There were plenty of days I thought about working from home but decided to go to the lab just to see Emma.

After I left the lab and moved to California, we drifted a bit. But Emma still sent me random texts – gossip, funny stories, things that would make me laugh. Whenever it came time to prepare for AOS, I’d text Emma to make sure she’d be there. She was that important, fun, and necessary.

At the most recent AOS meeting in Estes Park, we spent an afternoon together, and I met Veda and Krishna for the first time. Veda was a little dysregulated and shy, so we picked up some sticks and started drawing in the sand as a little icebreaker. That small moment led to a conversation about how dear our kids are to us.

One of the last things Emma said to me that afternoon was that if Veda passed away, she couldn’t imagine going on – she couldn’t live without her.

I feel so deeply sad knowing my dear friend is gone, but even more heartbroken that Veda won’t have the chance to grow alongside her incredible mother. I send my deepest condolences to Krishna and Veda. I’d hug them as tightly as I could if I were there.

We got to know Emma through a mutual friend years ago. She was warm and kind. What a loss for all who loved her. Wishing loving support to her family 

Emma was always a positive force at the Lab with such a sweet, kind demeanor. Emma's passing is a tremendous loss to our community, her laugh and smile will forever be missed in our halls and especially along the north wall. My sincere condolences go out to Veda and family.

I am deeply grateful to have had the opportunity to work with Emma during my summer field research in college. My heartfelt condolences go out to her family, and I wish them strength and peace during this difficult time.

It is hard to think how someone as full of life as Emma was having had it swiped away from her like this.  Look at all the photos here!  She sure lived like the rock star I thought she was at the Lab of O, and not even knowing the half of it.  Blessings to Emma's memory, my old EVI neighbor and friend Krishna, and Veda.  Anna and Kali too.

Emma was so amazingly warm, sweet, thoughtful, and compassionate. Always smiling and cheerful at work as well as brilliant and dedicated. I am so thankful to have known and worked with her for so many years. I admired her love, passion, and inspiration for birds that she generously shared with people around the globe. My heart goes out to her family and friends experiencing this enormous and tragic loss. I will think of her when I’m hearing beautiful bird songs and the happy twitters of birds at the feeders. Miss you Emma! Thank you for enriching all of our lives. Love,

I never had the chance to meet Emma. Krishna has been a dear friend since he and his family were next door neighbors in my early teens. What a sad turn in life's strange journey. Sending love and support.Looking forward to the day I get to meet Veda, and give Krishna a hug in person.

To all of Emma’s family and friends:

I am heartbroken to learn of Emma’s illness and passing. How incredibly sorry I am for your loss. The world has lost an incredibly dynamic, witty, kind, and brilliant person. While I didn’t know Emma well as someone based remotely for the Lab, I can’t think of a time I crossed paths with her in Ithaca or virtually when she didn’t have a smile on her face and something thoughtful, and often funny, to say. My heart goes out to all of you. You’ll be in my thoughts so often and I wish you peace when you hear the birds sing, knowing they’re singing for Emma.

With deep sympathy,

Carolyn Sedgwick-Ludwin 

We all thank you so much for the photos and memories of Emma.  She had such a rich life meeting and working with you all.  And then she met Krishna and they had Veda, a sweetheart, who is bringing us all joy.  Your kindness is overwhelming.

Emma teaching a student training expedition in Kenya, several thousand feet up Mt. Kenya.

Emma teaching in Kenya.

Emma on a hike while at the American Ornithological Association conference in Alaska

Emma teaching a student training expedition in Kenya

Student training expedition to Kenya — with Emma and Shailee Shah

At the American Ornithological Society conference. — with Krishna, Veda and Emma