COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina naturalist Rudy Mancke, a popular host of South Carolina Public Radio's NatureNotes and SC Education Television's (SCETV) NatureScene, has passed at age 78.
According to reports, his wife Ellen confirmed Mancke's death from liver disease Tuesday, November 7, while surrounded by his family.
Rudy Mancke had been a fixture on SC Public Radio and SCETV since 1978 when he and co-creator Beryl Dakers launched NatureScene on SCETV. The program highlighted the wonder of the natural world in South Carolina and other areas through field trips. His popular NatureNotes program on South Carolina Public Radio answered questions about the identities and characteristics of plants and animals submitted by the public
More recently, Mancke was the naturalist in residence at the University of South Carolina.
Funeral plans have not been released.