Gary Lincoff taught courses on mushroom and plant identification and use at the New York Botanical Garden and led wild mushroom and edible wild plant study trips and forays to 30 countries. Lincoff chaired the Telluride Mushroom Festival for 25 years (1980-2004), and continued to participate for many years as its principal speaker. He was the president of the North American Mycological Association from 1980 to 1986. His books include the The Complete Mushroom Hunter and National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Mushrooms. He lived in New York City.