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George was an early proponent of helping children make connections with nature. George continued to think globally and work on publications
up until the very end. He had three major manuscripts in draft:
practice caring for animals and nature. Flash back to young “Conservation As Caring,” “Global Citizenship,” and “World
George in mud boots, searching for salamanders and listening to Environment Organization.” In his final weeks, he was talking
ants. He understood that caring for nature begins in childhood. about enrolling the medical community in his work on caring.
Hamill Family Play Zoo inspired a host of exhibits across the
country offering hands-on play activities for young children. George was profoundly aware that his work was not done.
More than anything, he wanted to complete his publications and
Other contributions would come in the form of increased zoo get the message out that we need a fundamental shift in the way
nutrition programs, behavioral enrichment for animals, and the we care for the Earth.
development of the field of conservation psychology (the study of
the reciprocal relationships between people and nature). What George perhaps wasn’t fully aware of was the impact he
had already had on other people. He left behind an army of deter-
George also advocated for the zoo to have strong conservation mined conservationists. As the condolence letters began to roll in
programs across the globe, from habitat restoration in Australia from around the world, one word was mentioned again and again:
to dolphin behavioral research in Florida (see page 18) and mentor. This introspective, gentle man from Charleston had quiet-
baboon studies in Africa, to name only a few. By the mid-1990s, ly supported and nurtured the careers of dozens of environmental-
the zoo was engaged in dozens of conservation efforts worldwide. ists. Like Toughie, he made a difference.

George and Toughie—both the last of their kind—sounded
the warning bell: we must act now in caring for each other and
for this Earth.

Rest in peace, George Bernard Rabb. █

The Future of Conservation

While serving as the zoo’s director, George also took on the
helm of the Species Survival Commission of the International
Union for the Conservation of Nature, a post he held for seven
years. During this time, he increased the volunteer base of the
organization manifold and championed an effort to help deter-
mine the cause of detrimental amphibian population declines
around the world.

After retiring from the Society in 2003—and freed from the
myriad responsibilities of running a large organization—George
turned his full attention to amphibian conservation and to other
large issues in conservation. He had a remarkable ability to think
horizontally, across disciplines, and make important connections
among concepts. He maintained an office in downtown
Brookfield, where he stayed current on scientific literature,
worked on select conservation issues (amphibians, big cats, and
okapi), and advised numerous organizations, such as the Illinois
State Museum, the Center for Humans and Nature, the Field
Museum Science Action Committee, Chicago Wilderness, and
Defenders of Wildlife, among others.

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