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easily understood to me (and hopefully to those reading this).
If you provide these services to your clients, whether they [ In Memoriam ]
are private or public entities, how much do you really know
about correctly preparing an elevation certificate? Before you Arthur D. Shaw, Jr.
even get to preparing the certificate, do you know how to 1929 – 2022
perform that elevation survey correctly? Because preparing
an EC was about a 10-minute discussion. Using a Flood Arthur Daniel Shaw, Jr., LS, PE, passed away on
Insurance Study and reading floodway maps and other September 24, 2022, at the age of 93, longtime
sources of information was the better part of one afternoon. resident of the Northport-East Northport area.
Do you know how to determine a Base Flood Elevation in Devoted husband to the late Jessie Clark Shaw.
areas that are not properly mapped? Using very old flood and Beloved father of Meridith (Seth) Rubenstein,
floodway maps? What if a Flood Insurance Study was never Tiffany (Aaron) Thomas, Candace (Mark)
performed? Having this knowledge, or employing licensed Thompson and the late Arthur D. Shaw, III.
professionals who do, would be a wonderful item to be able Cherished grandfather of Grayson Rubenstein,
to show on a company resume or qualifications list (much MacKenzie Rubenstein, Alexandra Rubenstein,
Sierra Rubenstein, Daniel Rubenstein, Courtney
like having CSTs on staff is).
Thompson, Kyle Thompson, & Ashley
I guess the question is, should land surveyors who prepare an Thompson. Fond brother to the late Malcolm
elevation certificate, or work within flood prone areas, who (Janice) Shaw. Dear uncle of Karin Safulko, Michael Nardone,
work alongside floodplain managers (Certified Floodplain Nora Stroud, David Shaw, Diane Hess, Sandra Reardon, Andrew
Managers) be required to have this CFS certification? I Shaw, Arthur B. Clark, Dorothy Webman, & Marcia Webman.
learned that in some parts of Tennessee, local municipalities Donations may be made in Arthur’s memory to the First
expect just that. You cannot submit an EC in their Presbyterian Church of Northport by mail to FPC Northport,
jurisdiction without this certification. The legalities of such a 330 Main St., Northport, NY 11768 or online at fpcnorthport.
rule are a separate discussion. What is not up for discussion org or to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center P.O. Box 5028
in my opinion, is that working within flood prone areas is Hagerstown, MD 21741-5028
only going to become more and more common. Regardless
of what side of the climate change fence you are on, dealing Robert “Andy” Burgher
with sea level rise, dealing with riverine areas that are subject At the time of printing, an obituary was not
to more and more large-scale flooding due to the kinds yet available. We’ve shared the news NYSDEC
of rain events we’ve been seeing lately, does not seem to shared with their staff below:
be going away. The company I work for has been heavily
involved in Hurricane Sandy related mitigation work for 10 “The Division of Lands and Forests shares the sad
years and counting. Whether that be municipal projects or news of Andy Burgher’s passing on February 25.
A Celebration of Life and remembrance ceremony
private projects. The new focus on City and State levels in will be held on Saturday, May 6 at 11:00 a.m. at
our area is Cloudbursts. How to handle an extreme amount the Ashokan Center in Olivebridge, NY. All are welcome to attend;
of precipitation in a short period of time. As more and sharing stories, poems, or other ways to honor Andy are encouraged
more of this type of work presents itself, the time to prepare and appreciated. Additional details about the May 6 ceremony and
yourself on how to properly work on these types of projects a possible staff event in Region 3 to honor Andy will be shared as they
seems to be now. become available.
As I look back on the three days I spent in Massachusetts as a Andy devoted more than four decades to DEC as a Land Surveyor,
guest of MALSCE, I’m glad I took on this challenge to learn Real Estate Specialist, and most recently, as Chief of the Bureau of Real
more about proper floodplain surveying and management. Property in Lands and Forests. His heart was in land surveying, and
There were 35 of us taking the course, all with different he was a true public servant. As one of DEC’s foremost experts on land
areas of expertise. I had the opportunity to collaborate with acquisitions, Andy presided over the addition of thousands of acres of
colleagues from Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Maine, New open space and land conservation easements during the course of his
career. He spent most of his career in his home, Region 3, where he led
Hampshire, Vermont, and Connecticut. During breaks I was efforts on the acquisition of the Lundy Estate and additions to Belleayre
able to speak face to face with surveyors who happen to be Ski Mountain. Andy’s contributions protected and enhanced nature
clients of ours. We studied together and bounced questions in New York State and will continue to bring joy of the outdoors to
off each other. It was a total collaborative effort guided along generations of New Yorkers.
by two instructors who have been a part of the program since
just about its inception. They were excellent teachers as well. In addition to Andy’s passion for conservation and the outdoors, he
was an inspiring leader and mentor, a cherished friend and colleague,
If you have an opportunity to take this course, I would highly and a wonderful and caring human being. He will be sorely missed.
recommend that you do. It is nothing short of an investment Andy’s partner Mary noted that he was, “a quiet force who lived a life
in your future for those of us who will be working more and of generosity and kindness.”
more in flood-prone areas.
Editor’s note – should a full obituary become available, it will be
shared at a later date.

EMPIRE STATE SURVEYOR / VOL. 59 • NO 3/ 2023 • MAY/JUNE 21