Dear Friends, It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Jan Klippert, the Founder of the Olympic Coast Cleanup. Jan passed away January 22, on his 73rd birthday. As you may know, Jan had been battling cancer for the last several years. In spite of this challenge, he remained dedicated to the Cleanup and worked tirelessly to build it up to what it has become today (now part of the Washington Coast Cleanup). In his last annual letter to volunteers, Jan noted how gratified and hopeful he was that the Cleanup, now in its ninth year, is being unified with similar efforts along the Washington Coast.

Born in Rochester, New York, Jan graduated from the University of Rochester. After moving to Seattle, he earned his Masters Degree in Public Administration. He began his public service career as an administrative assistant to Seattle Mayors Clinton and Braman. Jan served 28 years with the King County Department of Public Works, where he was the first Community Relations Director. He was a past President of the Washington Chapter of the American Public Works Association, past President of the Engineers Club, and a past Board Member for APWA Historical Society.

Jan was a gentleman and a gentle man, a planner and organizer, a visionary whose dreams he made reality. He loved to travel and was an avid photographer, writer, hiker and environmentalist. Jan believed in giving back to the community. He was an active member of Haller Lake United Methodist Church, past President of the Haller Lake Community Club, and past Board Member of Washington Trails Association and frequent contributor to their Washington Trails Magazine. Jan was founder of Earth Fair (1990), co-founder of TrailsFest (1996), and was integral in the creation of the book, Building Washington: A History of Washington State Public Works. After retirement, he founded the Olympic Coast Cleanup in 2000, which has now blossomed into the Washington Coast Cleanup. Jan's Cleanup efforts have been praised by the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary and Olympic National Park for helping to protect delicate coastal ecosystems and for providing an opportunity for people to connect to the beauty and wildness of the coast itself. Sierra Club Magazine celebrated Jan's accomplishments in a feature article in 2005. And just last year, Volvo selected Jan as a semi-finalist in its prestigious Volvo for Life Awards program to recognize outstanding volunteer efforts across the country.

Jan is survived by his loving wife of 48 years, Sharon, children Heidi Klippert Mendro and Brian Klippert, grandchildren Hannah and Nicholas Mendro, his sister Heidi Lindberg, and brothers Brant and Rolf.

All of us who knew and worked with Jan will miss his amazing energy and inspiring perserverance with Cleanup efforts in spite of the many challenges of his battle with cancer.

Sincerely,

Washington Clean Coast Alliance