Walking along Washington's Olympic Coast in 1997, Jan Klippert noticed what everyone notices when they visit: tons of washed up debris spoiling the beauty and ecosystems of our coast. But instead of just mentally blocking it out like the rest of us, Jan decided to actually do something about it. Starting with a group of about 300 in the year 2000, Jan organized cleanup efforts every April (for Earth Day) to remove the unsightly plastics, lost fishing gear, and other marine debris washed up on the Olympic Coast.

Over the years, Jan rounded up more and more volunteers and gained the assistance of staff at Olympic National Park and Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary. Thanks to his tireless persistence, the cleanup gradually blossomed into an annual tradition for hundreds of dedicated volunteers. What a difference one person can make!

Sadly, Jan passed away in early 2008 after a long illness, but the annual event he founded lives on as part of the Washington Coast Cleanup. Every April, hundreds of volunteers, many of whom Jan personally recruited, turn out in ever greater numbers to save our coast from debris that washes up all year long. Thanks to Jan's founding inspiration, Washington's Pacific beaches are cleaner and healthier - for visitors as well as wildlife!

Everyone involved in the Washington CoastSavers program carries Jan's optimism forward to each new cleanup. Jan's example teaches us that each of us must take responsibility for making the world a better place. Working together, we can make a big difference!

More About Jan...

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 loved to travel and was an avid photographer, writer, hiker, and environmentalist. He believed in giving back to his community and 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. Jan was also founder of Earth Fair (1990), co-founder of TrailsFest (1996), and integral in the creation of the book, Building Washington: A History of Washington State Public Works.

Following retirement, Jan 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 in 2007, Volvo selected Jan as a semi-finalist in its prestigious Volvo for Life Awards program to recognize outstanding volunteer efforts across the country.