In memory . . .

As a partnership program, the Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program (CHNEP) has had hundreds of people help further its efforts to protect and restore the natural environment of southwest Florida. CHNEP has created a memorial page on its website at www.CHNEP.org to honor those who have contributed to the Program.

Some of these supporters who have passed away are listed here.

Joan Hall Bush

Joan and her husband Warren retired in 1998 to Cape Coral where she pursued her art talents and, together, they volunteered on the CHNEP, as Master Gardeners with the Florida Yards and Neighborhood Program, the Florida Native Plant Society, Cape Coral Historical Society, the Cape Coral Citizens' Academy and in many other ways. They made the demands of volunteering look easy, quietly serving the needs of their community. Joan and Warren joined the CHNEP Citizens Advisory Committee in July 2005. She served as the committee co-chair in 2007. Joan passed away July 10, 2009. She was an incredible person who will be missed by many.

John Brenneman

John, a gentle man and a gentleman, served on the CHNEP Citizens Advisory Committee as a Polk County Extension agent from the CAC's first meeting in April of 1997 until he became Polk County Extension Director in 2005. Among his many accomplishments, John expanded the Lakewatch program, which uses volunteers to collect water quality data on lakes in Polk County, he organized Polk County Water School, which educated residents about local water issues, and he organized the Living on the Lake program, which educates residents about maintaining lake water quality and about the ecology of local lakes. He passed away on June 22, 2009 from cancer at the age of 57.

Joy Linn

Joy devoted many years of volunteer service to several organizations, primarily Peace River Audubon Society, Charlotte Harbor Environmental Center, Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program and the Peace River Medical Center. For CHNEP, she helped plan the first four annual Charlotte Harbor Nature Festival from 2001 to 2004. Many people looked up to Joy for her energy, intelligence, generosity, sense of humor and love of her husband. She passed away on March 24, 2009 from multiple myeloma.

Bruce Nolan

Bruce was a well-respected certified interpretive trainer and owner of Interpretive Concepts. His work with CHNEP included helping to develop the Peace River Environmental Education Network (PREEN). He passed away on June 23, 2008 at the age of 42 after a long and courageous fight with brain cancer.

David Y. Burr

Through his energy and commitment, Dave was a seminal participant in the creation of the CHNEP and served as the first acting director of the Program. He continually promoted watershed efforts that were critical for the estuaries, including the Estero Bay Agency on Bay Management. Dave was a native Floridian who received a M.S. degree in systems ecology and a B.S. degree in wildlife ecology from the University of Florida. He started his career with Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council, the CHNEP’s host agency, in July 1975 and became the executive director on September 2002.

Amy Remley

Amy Remley dedicated her career as an environmental scientist with the Southwest Florida Water Management District to the protection, restoration and management of our marine, estuarine and freshwater ecosystems. Her goal was to leave this world a little bit better than it was before she got here. She succeeded.

Betty Talburt

Betty was a champion for advocacy and the protection of our beautiful natural world. She was instrumental in making the Charlotte Harbor Nature Festivals a success and was involved in many local environmental projects, including the CHNEP Citizens Advisory Committee, Keep Charlotte Beautiful, the Charlotte Harbor Audubon Society and the Nature Festival.

Richard Novak

Rich was a friend to resource mangers, boaters and fisher-folk alike. Without his energy and drive, the Boca Grande Pass Clean-Up and the Charlotte Harbor Boater’s Guide would not have come to fruition.

James R.E. Smith

"Smith" as he liked to be referred to, maintained an untiring desire for protection of the water resources of the Charlotte Harbor estuary. When he retired as a scientist for the U.S. Government, he came to Charlotte County to "fish and relax." He was reported that he only got to fish once and then became involved in a variety of water quality issues from septic tanks to water utilities. His strongest conviction as a scientist was that people at all levels – citizens, managers, elected officials – would utilize sound scientifically-based information as critical decisions were being considered. He never tired in delivering that message whether verbally or in writing during his 31 years in southwest Florida. Mr. Smith will be remembered for his willingness to provide support of all kinds to the natural systems of the Charlotte Harbor estuary along with his strong conviction for "just the facts!"

Mike Milligan

Mike of Center for Systematics and Taxonomy passed away in 2005 at the age of 54. He was active in the Florida Association of Benthologists (www.flbenthos.org) where he served as past president in 1990-91 and a recipient of their Award of Excellence in December 1997. Mike completed two projects for CHNEP: Matlatcha Pass Benthic Survey and the Tidal Caloosahatchee River Benthic Survey.