mological journal. Those researchers who know him 

 well are probably saying "What? Only one paper?" since 

 Ron, in addition to arguably knowing more than anyone 

 else in the world about the Family Tephritidae (fruit 

 flies), was also incredibly productive in his publication 

 record. 



In spite of his brilliant intellect, Ron was very down 

 to earth, very easy to talk with, and incredibly commit- 

 ted to extension work: once again not typical of Uni- 

 versity Faculty in general. He loved his days in the field. 

 There was literally nothing he preferred more than sit- 

 ting in the orchard observing his beloved insect sub- 

 jects. Ron always joked that when he died, he wanted 



to be reincarnated as an apple maggot fly. I hope for 

 all our sakes that he does not get his wish, because I 

 envision apple maggot becoming A LOT BIGGER prob- 

 lem if the species has Ron's incredible knowledge and 

 energies to draw upon. 



Ron Prokopy was truly deserving of the 'one-of- 

 a-kind' label. While it is comforting to know that Ron 

 was following his passions right to the last, and that his 

 passing was peaceful, the fruit industry, the science of 

 Entomology, the University of Massachusetts, his many 

 graduate students, and all his many friends and col- 

 leagues will miss him dearly. 



%1^ *A^ %1^ *1^ «1^ 

 ^r% ^r% ^f% ^r* ^r% 



Fruit Notes, Volume 69, Spring, 2004 



