3 The New York Years (1931–1953)

20 1 Childhood and Youth
Fig.1.7. “The lovable eccentric”—Rudolf Zimmermann; photograph taken in 1942 (Archive,
Museum of Natural History Berlin, Orn. 158,1)
con, E. Dittmann and R. Köhler observed other birds near Dresden. At one of the
meetings, Mayr was introduced to Rudolf Zimmermann (1878–1943), editor of the
association’s publication. With him, our young ornithologist learned more than
from anyone else, particularly that one had to know the relevant literature and that
one had to ask biological questions. Through Zimmermann, Mayr also met the
dean of the Saxon ornithologists, Richard Heyder (1884–1984) in Oederan whom
he visited for the last time in 1973. Their correspondence ended when Heyder
died about 6 months before his 100th birthday. Ernst Mayr wrote very personal
reminiscences of Rudolf Zimmermann (Fig. 1.7):
“He was my chief ornithological mentor during my high school days, and
furthermore, one of the most extraordinary, lovable eccentric people one can
imagine. He lived in Dresden in a one-room apartment largely filled with books
and periodicals. He had no kitchen, only an alcohol burner on which he made his
simple meals if he happened to have enough money to buy some food stuff. If not,