“Environmental progress never just happens. Behind every environmental victory — be it the creation of a national park, adoption of a rule to protect air quality, or passage of a law to clean up toxic waste — there’s a story. And that story is the tale of citizens who dedicated themselves, often against long odds, to fight to protect and improve our outdoors.
“One of the folks in Wisconsin who has fought the longest and hardest to protect the environment is Jonathan Ela.” – Former State Rep. Spencer Black, from an article honoring Jonathan’s environmental leadership in The Capital Times on July 24, 2012
We were greatly saddened to learn of the passing of Jonathan Ela on October 31.
Jonathan was a great and tireless champion of conservation in Wisconsin and nationally. The article quoted from and linked to above honors and shares Jonathan’s many accomplishments and contributions.
Here we simply want to say we’ll miss Jonathan’s powerful yet gentle presence in all the places that mattered for conservation. He took the time to make his voice heard in a way that should make us all grateful. We’ve lost a leader and a conservation hero.
Our thoughts are with Trish Stocking – Jonathan’s wife, former GWC board member, and incredible conservation leader in her own right – and their family.
