Dear colleagues and friends,
I started writing this message several times, but just could not finish, it
was just too hard, too final. Nechama and I shared a passion for the same
polychaete group, serpulids, and she not only a great colleague, but also a
dear friend. She was such a smart, energetic, caring, courageous and
enthusiastic person. I was lucky to share with her what supposed to be a
room in Lecce (the booked inexpensive room for some reason turned out to
be a wonderful apartment more suitable for a couple on their honeymoon than
for two dedicated polychaete researchers attending a conference, I am still
puzzled what happened). This was the last time I saw Nechama. She did
register initially for the conference in Sydney, but unfortunately she had
to cancel her participation due to her deteriorating health. I made a
promise that I would visit her after conference if I make it to Europe for
my (much needed) vacation. I feel very guilty that I could not keep that
promise because in September I had to deal with my own family problems in
Moscow. Recently we described a serpulid polychaete from Australia (
http://www.marinespecies.org/polychaeta/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=707670)
and named it after Nechama. I talked to her on the phone two weeks ago for
the last time. I will miss Nechama very much and she will always live in my
heart.
Wormly,
Lena
