In Memory of Joan Thomas
The Coalition is deeply saddened by the loss of one of our founding board members, Joan Thomas, who recently passed away after a year-long fight with cancer.
Joan, a pillar and respected leader of the conservation movement in Washington, was a founding member of the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Coalition in 1989. Joan’s commitment to our natural heritage was second to none.
In 2008, the Coalition created the Joan Thomas award to recognize lifetime conservation champions who worked tirelessly to ensure that the next generation would have access to the same beautiful parks, wildlife habitat and working farms that we enjoy today. Joan was the first recipient of the award.
Among her many accomplishments Joan was the former Chair of the State Parks Commission a former President and founding board member of the Washington Environmental Council, President of the League of Women Voters and a board member of the Mountains to Sound Greenway.
Joan left a legacy across the state, from her commitment to preserving Washington’s State Parks to the protection of so many other iconic places like Discovery Park in Seattle.
Joan, you will be missed.
You may make contribution in memory of Joan here.
