Honorary Volunteer Spotlight: In Memoriam – Dr. David Adamski (1950–2025)

In Memoriam: Dr. David Adamski (1950–2025)

Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy is deeply saddened by the passing of Dr. David Adamski, a beloved educator, volunteer, and friend whose passion for the natural world left a lasting mark on our community. David passed away peacefully on October 25 after a long illness. He leaves behind a legacy rooted in curiosity, generosity, and a lifelong commitment to teaching.

Affectionately known to many as “The Moth Man,” David had a rare ability to make the unseen unforgettable. Through his programs with Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy and partner organizations, he introduced generations of volunteers, families, and naturalists to the beauty, diversity, and importance of moths and other often overlooked insects.

Bringing the Night to Life

David’s programs with Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy were memorable from the very beginning. During summer Moth Nights at Morven Park and other locations, he invited people to step outside after dark with curiosity rather than hesitation. He opened each evening with an engaging and easy-to-follow introduction to Lepidoptera. As night fell, David would set up a blacklight and white sheet among the trees. Before long, moths and other insects began to appear.

“What seemed like a hundred different moths and insects filled up the large white sheet David had hung,” recalled Jim McWalters, former President of Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy’s Board of Directors, longtime program coordinator, and volunteer. “Each one different, but David knew them all by name. One of those times it makes you appreciate the diversity and beauty of nature. David helped bring that to life.”

Even when weather or conditions made outdoor observation difficult, David never lost his audience. He could make a room feel just as alive with stories, knowledge, and quiet enthusiasm.

A Teacher Who Met People Where They Were

Those who learned from David often spoke about how comfortable he made them feel. As Paul Kreingold — Conservation Director of the Loudoun County Chapter of the Izaak Walton League and a Virginia Master Naturalist with the Banshee Reeks Chapter — put it, David was “avuncular,” like an uncle to everyone.

Paul reflected that David was someone people immediately trusted. “Everybody loved that guy,” he said. “He was a great teacher. He loved teaching people and talking to people.”

Whether he was working with children, volunteers, Master Naturalists, or professional scientists, David had a rare ability to translate deep expertise without relying on dense academic or scientific jargon. He never talked down to people, but he never made them feel lost either. Learning with David felt collaborative, human, and grounded in shared curiosity.

A Life of Science, Shared Generously

David was an internationally respected lepidopterist who devoted his career to the study of moths, particularly the Gelechioidea superfamily. He spent many years working at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History and the USDA’s Systematic Entomology Laboratory at the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center. Over the course of his career, he authored more than 80 scientific publications and described many previously unknown species.

Despite his deep expertise, David never treated knowledge as something to guard. Through nearly a decade of volunteer programs with Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy, along with Smithsonian tours, workshops, and youth education, he shared what he knew freely and patiently.

“The depth of his knowledge about Lepidoptera was astounding and inspiring,” Jim shared. “There was no question that was too simple. He could explain things in such a way that made you want to learn more.”

Inspiring Curiosity Across Generations

David was especially passionate about educating young people. Through his Young Entomologists program, he believed in giving children the chance to do meaningful, hands-on work.

“He would have these kids go out and do real work,” Paul recalled. “One kid, about twelve years old, studied Jack-in-the-pulpits and gave a presentation on it. I saw the presentation, and it was terrific. It was college-level work under David’s guidance.”

That same spirit carried through his work with Virginia Master Naturalists. Classes were scheduled to end in the afternoon, but they often did not. When the formal session wrapped up, participants stayed, and David stayed with them — people gathered around tables identifying specimens, asking questions, and listening as David talked through what they were seeing. Learning continued because no one wanted it to stop.

Respected by Institutions, Grounded in Community

David’s generosity as a teacher was matched by the respect he earned from the institutions he worked with. After retiring from the Department of Agriculture, the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History offered him an office so he could continue his work there. He was also given a parking spot, a small but telling detail in a city where parking is notoriously scarce and highly coveted. For those who knew him, it reflected how deeply valued he was as a scientist, colleague, and educator.

At the same time, David remained grounded in community education, showing up with the same enthusiasm whether he was leading a museum tour, teaching a workshop, or hosting a moth night outdoors.

A Lasting Legacy

Reflecting on his friend, Paul described David as intrepid, someone who believed you had to be willing to explore deeply and keep a sense of humor along the way. David approached his work and his life with that same spirit. He had a large presence, almost larger than life, because of the energy, curiosity, and generosity he carried with him wherever he went.

Dr. David Adamski helped countless people see the natural world more closely and with greater appreciation. His legacy lives on in the volunteers he inspired, the students he mentored, the colleagues he supported, and the many people who now pause to notice the small and remarkable creatures around them.

As Jim reflected, “David helped bring the wonders and beauty of nature, specifically the world of Lepidoptera, to life.”

We are deeply grateful for David’s years of service to Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy and to the broader naturalist community. His work, his teaching, and his spirit will continue to inspire curiosity and care for the natural world.

A memorial service celebrating David’s life and achievements will be announced at a later date.

The link to his obituary can be found here.