It is with unbelievable sadness that we pass along the news that Constance Rinaldo, in so many ways the heart of the Biodiversity Heritage Library, has died after a rapid and sudden illness. After some glimmers of hope that she might recover, she passed away on Thursday, October 27th. Connie’s family expects celebrations of her life in Boston, New Hampshire, and Maine.
BHL Executive Committee Chair, David Iggulden (Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew), noted:
“Connie was a wonderful colleague and friend and her passion for all things BHL was highly infectious. I know that many of us will have very fond memories of attending various events with Connie or jointly presenting with her on BHL activities and developments. I personally have learnt so much from her during my time on the Executive and was always inspired by her drive to track down new opportunities for collaboration, development, or promotion of BHL.”
After her family and friends, BHL was Connie’s greatest passion and we are all better for that passion. As BHL Program Director since 2012, looking beyond daily administrative challenges is sometimes difficult. Connie was invaluable in reminding us all of the higher goals, the higher purpose, that BHL was committed to: BHL’s service to our library partners, to our global audience of researchers, and to making progress, however small, on the great challenges facing our planet and the organisms we share it with.
On my own walks through nature, I am constantly reminded of the Huxley quote that was always in her signature file:
“To a person uninstructed in natural history, his country or seaside stroll is a walk through a gallery filled with wonderful works of art, nine-tenths of which have their faces turned to the wall.” — Thomas Henry Huxley
Connie’s work as a librarian (most recently as head of the Ernst Mayr Library of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, 1999-2021), and especially her dedicated service of 17 years to BHL where she served as inaugural BHL Secretary, followed by Vice-Chair, and then Chair, have helped many to expose the work of nature, especially as held in our BHL collections, to the world.
With the support of Connie’s family, BHL has established an internship to honor her memory. Learn more about the BHL Internship in Collection Development and Global Partnerships.
A fuller tribute to Connie will appear on the BHL blog in the coming weeks.
Inaugural BHL Executive Committee (Left to Right): Cathy Norton (Vice-Chair, MBLWHOI Library), Graham Higley (Chair, Natural History Museum, London), Constance Rinaldo (Secretary, Mayr Library, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard). Missouri Botanical Garden
Attending a meeting at the Academy of Natural Sciences (Philadelphia)
With a friend at the 2015 GBIF meeting in Madagascar
2022 BHL Annual Meeting, Edinburgh, Scotland
Martin R. Kalfatovic is BHL Program Director and Associate Director, Digital Programs and Initiatives Division, Smithsonian Libraries and Archives. As the BHL Program Director, Mr. Kalfatovic functions as the executive director and manager of the international consortium of over 80 natural history, botanical garden, government, and university libraries engaged in the mass digitization of taxonomic literature. The position also serves as a key contact for government, NGO, and academic leaders at both the national and international level. Within his role at Smithsonian Libraries and Archives, Mr. Kalfatovic is responsible for the Libraries’ active Digital Library program. This program includes the creation of digital editions of library materials, online exhibitions, and new digital publications.
I am stunned- she was a pure and passionate soul whom I got to know in high school.
I am so glad she went on to do such important work and raise a wonderful family- but her time was way too short. So few people are able to follow their heart throughout life as she seems to have managed to do.
I will hold her memory always.
STUNNNED. Knew her as a dream in her parents’ hearts and a star in her grandmother’s. Can not imagine Phylis’s state right now. May the multiverses bless.
This is really shocking news, and is just so very sad. Connie was one of the most capable and kind people I have ever known. My thoughts are with all her knew and loved her, especially her family.
Such shocking and unwelcome news! I had been concerned since she had posted on FB a week or so ago about “things being rocky,” but didn’t know to whom she referred. As a member of the search committee that brought her to Dartmouth, in a first telephone interview with me, I was greatly impressed with how well she handled my questions while simultaneously dealing with demands from then-2 year old Tristan, without slighting either of us. Later we both finished our careers in Harvard museum libraries, so were able to stay in continuing touch. Connie was immensely capable, sensible, and kind. We have lost a major professional icon and and an even greater person.