In Memoriam: Ed Schell

Long-time member, photographer and nature enthusiast Edward “Ed” Hageman Schell, 92, died peacefully in Lexington, SC in January. Born Dec. 18, 1922, in Steubenville, OH, Ed served in the Navy and was stationed at Pearl Harbor during the Japanese attack in 1941. After the war he went to college at Michigan State University and worked for the federal government at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, OH. In 1974, he retired from the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington DC.

Ed moved to Johnson City, TN, in 1975 to pursue his love of nature as a naturalist photographer. He published his first book, “Potomac — The Nation’s River” in 1976 and his second book, “Tennessee” in 1979.

He compiled photographic surveys of areas that contained rare and endangered species for the purpose of promoting preservation of those lands for future generations. His work was seen in many publications, including National Geographic and the Sierra Club Magazine.

He was actively involved with SAHC, Friends of Roan Mountain, TN Native Plant Society, Southern Maryland Audubon Society and many other organizations that fostered a love of the environment. Ed was an avid hiker who celebrated his 80th birthday with a 15 mile circuit hike to the top of Mt. LeConte in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, through snow and ice. He was always happy to share his love of the Southern Appalachians and special environmentally sensitive areas.