Robert Lee Riffle

Award-winning author, Robert Lee Riffle, passed away at his Fort Pierce, Florida, home on Friday, August 11, 2006, at age 65. An internationally-recognized authority on palms and tropical plants, Mr. Riffle was one of the few authors who twice received The American Horticulture Society’s Book Award for his publications, The Tropical Look: An Encyclopedia of Dramatic Landscape Plants and An Encyclopedia of Cultivated Palms (the latter co-authored with Paul Craft). His third book, A Pocket Guide to Palms will be published in 2007.Since the 1980s, Bob Riffle was a strong presence online, answering questions and encouraging gardeners in their endeavors via postings on garden and plant message boards. He generously shared his extensive knowledge gently and with wit through his membership in the International Palm Society, and wrote articles for their publication, Palms, as well as for many of their chapters’ publications. He was the moderator of the IPS’s active PalmTalk message board, and tributes to him can be read online at www.palmtalk.org .
In addition to his love of palms and tropicals, Bob Riffle was an accomplished pianist, received a degree in music at Centenary College, was a gifted photographer and an enthusiastic film buff. His circle of friends who shared his interests is worldwide.
Mr. Riffle was born in Fort Worth, Texas, and spent most of his life in Houston.. He moved to Fort Pierce, Florida, in 2000 for the opportunity to more closely study some of the palms he included in his second book.Mr. Riffle is survived by his sister, Nancy Bell of Calvert, Texas; his daughter, Donna Hutcheson and two granddaughters of Rowlett, Texas; a cousin, and his long-time companion, Jesse R. “Rany” McIntyre.Arrangements are being made by Haisley Funeral Home in Fort Pierce, Florida. His ashes will rest under the 99-year-old, 100,000 pound Adansonia digitata (Baobob tree) at The Kampong in Coral Gables Florida, the former estate of his boyhood hero, David Fairchild.