The Life and Work of Those We've Lost

Dear EEAC Community:

It is with a heavy heart that we are writing to share the devastating news of the passing of our dear friend and EEAC Chairperson, River DiLeo. As anyone who interacted with them can tell you, River was a veritable force of nature–one who touched and forever changed the lives of so many in the environmental education community in NYC and beyond.

River Grace
A poem by Ray Pultinas

if ever a name
flowing 
neverending
continuous edge

River that hugs the shore 
but seldom takes it with them

beneath is power, energy to use
or current that can bring you down
entangle you in the branches

then free you 
to rise above 
the surface 
of the sky

My early career in environmental education began in 1981 on my sabbatical year at Gateway Environmental Study Center with Ruth Eilenberg.  Looking back there was little that happened in the remaining 25 years at the Board of Education (now Department of Education) that was not in some way touched by Sam Holmes, Chief of Interpretation at Gateway National Recreation Area. Sam along with many others were founding members of EEAC.

The Environmental Education (EE) community in NYC and the surrounding region has been saddened by the passing of Terry Ippolito. Terry played an extremely significant role in EE for more than a quarter century.

References
1. Obituary, NY Times, May 2021
2, 3, 4. Brandwein Institute, brandwein.org, and Spring 2010 EEAC Newsletter
5, 6, 7, 8, 10. EEAC Newsletter, Winter-Spring 2014
9. Brandwein Institute 
11, 12, 13. EEAC Listserv, May 2021