DANSVILLE – Thomas J. “Big Da” Rauber Sr., a nationally recognized advocate for the bald eagle and a lifelong resident of Dansville, passed away early Wednesday at his home on East Hill. He was 93.
Rauber was widely published for his work on bald eagles, and his decades-long effort to save the species from extinction was featured nationally, including on CNN. While his research gained broad attention, those closest to him said he took the greatest pride in the countless hours he spent quietly observing and photographing the birds he worked to protect.
Born in Dansville on May 27, 1924, Rauber was the son of Nicholas and Alice Rauber. He graduated from Dansville Central School in 1941 and later served in Europe during World War II with General George Patton’s Third Army. That service shaped his lifelong devotion to his country and ultimately inspired his determination to protect the nation’s symbol, the bald eagle.
Rauber’s passion for nature guided much of his life. He spent decades hunting, gardening, photographing wildlife, and studying American Indian culture. In 1965, while working for Rochester Telephone Company, he made a discovery that would define his legacy. At age 42, he located what was then the last known bald eagle nest in New York State.
Rauber made hundreds of visits to the nest, documenting the birds’ repeated failure to hatch eggs. Working closely with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, his efforts helped lead to the creation of the nation’s first comprehensive bald eagle recovery program in 1976. Rauber served as a volunteer leader in that initiative.
That same year, the Federation of New York State Bird Clubs awarded Rauber the John Elliot Memorial Award for his article “Notes of the NY Nest of the Bald Eagle,” published in the journal Kingbird. His work proved foundational. The bald eagle was removed from the federal Endangered Species List in 2007, and today more than 300 nesting pairs exist across New York State.
In 2013, the Department of Environmental Conservation formally recognized Rauber for his decades of volunteer service and his central role in restoring the state’s bald eagle population. In 2015, after more than 37 years of research and observation, he published the book Bald Eagles Soar Again: One Man’s Quest to Prevent the Extinction of the Bald Eagle in the U.S.
Beyond his conservation work, Rauber lived a full and creative life. A parishioner of St. Mary’s Church and a member of the Daniel Goho Post 87 of the American Legion, he also designed and built homes, constructed a motorized “Moose Buggy,” and worked on the Mount Morris Dam. He and his wife Mary Ellen spent summers exploring lakes and visiting national parks, sharing their love of the outdoors with their family.
Rauber is survived by his wife of 69 years, Mary Ellen Hunt Rauber; his children Thomas J. Rauber Jr., Colleen Rauber, Molly Rauber, Michele Mistretta, Dan Rauber, and Nancy Matthews; numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and extended family. He was predeceased by his parents and his brothers Peter and Brooks Rauber.
Calling hours will be held Friday from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Foursquare Church on West Avenue in Dansville. A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday at 1 p.m. at St. Mary’s Church. Arrangements are by Hindle Funeral Home.
The family has requested no flowers. Memorial contributions may be made to the Thomas J. Rauber Sr. Bald Eagle Exhibit at the Finger Lakes Museum.
Rauber’s legacy stands as a lasting reminder of how the dedication of one individual can change the course of history and restore a species once on the brink of disappearance.
