Remembering Tom Lyons

December 11th, 2017

The California Waterkeepers family is deeply saddened to learn of the unexpected and untimely passing of one of our own, Tom Lyons. Tom was a bright, funny, and talented advocate and friend to so many in our movement.

Tom was a beloved member of the California Coastkeeper Alliance team from 2007 to 2011. During Tom’s tenure with us, he traveled throughout California to visit Waterkeepers and hold community workshops on how to report pollution. His presence was always welcomed, as he radiated warmth and genuine care for the people and places we work to protect.

I traveled with Tom up to the Klamath River on one occasion and remember how he walked into the community hall after an eight-hour drive, broke the ice with workshop attendees as he set up the projector and presentation, and then delivered a flawless training on reporting pollution. He was likable and dynamic and seemed equally at home on a boat or out in the field as he was in a Sacramento hearing room.

After graduating from Brown University with a degree in Environmental Studies, Tom moved out West to work for our organization, first as Program Coordinator and then as a Policy and GIS Analyst. During that time, he supported the clean water and healthy oceans work of Waterkeepers throughout California. Among his many lasting contributions to the network were his development of new maps to track pollution in California’s waterways and his advocacy for the development of California’s Marine Protected Area network.

Following his time at CCKA, Tom continued to fight for clean water by taking graduate coursework in International Environmental Policy and working at the Environmental Integrity Project, where he studied nutrient pollution from industrial discharges into the Chesapeake Bay. Tom also spent time working in Vermont at Hugg-A-Planet, a company developing educational toy globes for children.

In addition to his professional talents, Tom was a gifted pianist, fluent in French, an expert skier, dog lover, and carpenter.

Our deepest condolences go out to his family and friends. He will be greatly missed by so many, in California and across the country.

Tom’s family is kindly organizing donations in his memory to California Coastkeeper Alliance. If you would like to donate, please click here and leave a note that you are giving in memoriam of Tom.

Thank you to all of those who have already donated for your generosity in this difficult time (as of Feb. 19, 2018).

Lola Dvorak Phoebe Brueckner
Robin Stockton Christopher Keeler
Audrey Mosley Sarah Foos
David Kranich Theodore Matlow
Jeffrey Lyons Suzanne Chamberlain
Judy Adler Brian Henesey
Adam Frisoli Diane Pellagrini
Virginia DeFede-Cove Jonathan Jamieson
Peter Holmes Kristy Gentes
Rachel Welensky Wendi Stern
James Shulman Turner Zamore
Margaret Stewart Brett Robertson
Donna Repko Arrin Barmak
Thomas Cunningham Joel Schwelling
Ari Savitsky Jody Marks
Lori Arner LaToya Archibald
Lynn Warner Vanessa Sabbagh
Kirsten Bourne Bruce Abels
Carolyn Fox Amy Mace
Mary Nowlan Emily Horne
Jeff Barovich Anna Urban
Greg Larson Sarah Cove
Alicia Kurth Marcia Leikin
Brian Chevalier George Colony
Elizabeth Warner Kathleen Becker
James Wilson Jonah Mull
Alan Starr Laurence Kranich
Helen Lambert Susan Brauer
Jill Matlow Micah Salkind
Ruth Baron Bryan Stevens
Renee Epstein Elizabeth Voos
Thomas Dean John Lynch
Joel Goldberg Joanne Lyons
Robert Kosmidek Erica Sade
Megan McCutcheon Kaitlyn Lindsay
Jonah Mossberg Barbara Darrow
Stephanie Levin Peter Du Moulin
Catherine Manzo Laura Caffry
Mary Flemming Mary Moisan
Susan Hoyt Steven Wells
Karen Warner Celine Bergeron
Stephanie Cooper Alice Stockton
Gina Knollenberg  

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