Middlebury, Vermont
    Charles Mraz, age 94, died early Monday morning at his home,
surrounded by his family, following a brief illness.
    Charles was born on July 26, 1905 in Woodside New York City, son of
Karl and Maris Mraz. Charles moved to Middlebury in 1928 and established
Champlain Valley Apiaries. He became a world renowned beekeeper and
maintained New England's largest apiary for over 60 years. He traveled
to South and Central America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East as a
consultant on beekeeping methods and technology. In 1992, the American
Beekeeping Federation recognized Charles among the five most
distinguished beekeepers in this country for his advances in commercial
beekeeping. He was a columnist and contributing writer for "Gleanings in
Bee Culture" and the "American Bee Journal". respectively. Charles was
recognized in this country as the pioneer of bee venom therapy, the use
of bee stings to treat autoimmune diseases. He initiated clinical
research with scientists at Sloan-Kettering Institute and Walter Reed
Army Institute. He established the standard for purity for dried whole
venom for the FDA and was the supplier of venom to pharmaceutical
companies throughout the world. He was a founding member and Executive
Director of the American Apitherapy Society. Charles earned the
gratitude of thpusands of people who traveled to his home for bee venom
treatments or met him at apitherapy conferences around the country. In
1994 he authored "Health and the Honey Bee", a recounting of his
experience with bee venom therapy.
    Charles was an avid gardener and dedicated to the practice of
organic farming. He was a president and board member of the Natural Food
and Farming Association, the precursor to the Northern Organic Farming
Association.
    Memorial contributions may be made to American Apitheripy Society,
5370 Carmel Rd., Hillsboro, Ohio, 45133.

    I thought the list should know of the passing of "Charlie." He was a
great man, and will be missed by all.  Mike