Shortly after Ed moved to Brookings, he contacted Alan Journet and Kathy Conway & shared his vision of establishing a climate focused group in Brookings. He worked with Alan and Kathy and assembled a diverse team to help plan and host monthly meetings, meet with community groups and teachers to share information about the causes and consequences of our warming planet, and convey the community his deep concern for how future generations would be affected by our changing climate.
Ed drew on his experiences as an engineer to make complicated information and concepts easy for others to understand. He was passionate about protecting a livable future for his kids, grandkids, and all succeeding generations. His love for kids led him to read books for kids every week at the library. His deep concern for not only his own offspring but kids of all ages, backgrounds, and places drove him to take personally the need to do all he could to fight climate change.
He asked many people what their vision was for our climate future, always with the hope that the world they would imagine would be even better than the one we grew up with in terms of the environment.
Kathy & Alan – “We will always have fond memories of Ed’s energy and enthusiasm for addressing the climate crisis as we worked with him, Deb, and Bill Gorham to establish the Coastal SOCAN Team. If we are to solve the climate crisis and protect our cherished planet, we will need more friends with Ed’s integrity and his commitment to pushing back against those who would undermine life on Earth in the thirst for short-term profits.”
Teri F. – “Sleep sweetly dear cousin”
Bill G. – “Ed was an inspiration for many of us to climate engagement, learning, and activism. I enjoyed many long conversations over lunch with him as we discussed climate change and planned SOCAN events. His leadership with Coastal SOCAN set the foundation that we continue with future Coastal SOCAN activities and engagement.”
Pamela T. – “Wanted to make a small acknowledgement in honor of Ed. He led such a meaningful life, impacting many. Thank you for sharing him with us Debra. His efforts will live on, leaving a beautiful legacy behind. May you be at peace. Love, Pamela”
Louise Shawkat
As most SOCAN activists know, Louise Shawkat has been critical to our success from our establishment. There is probably no SOCAN activity that has not benefitted from Louise’s energy, enthusiasm, and contribution. She attended our first meeting back in 2012 and has been a centerpiece of almost everything we have done since then. Louise’s contributions included several years as a member of the Board of Directors.
Some long-time SOCAN stalwarts may recall the 2013 Salmon Event, formally known as “It’s A Rogue Thing: Bringing Climate Change Home.” This event drew hundreds of Southern Oregonians to Medford to express concern for the developing climate crisis. Each scale on that huge fish was a separate cardboard image. We suspect that absent Louise’s late-night dedication with paintbrush and paint, the fish would have been far less colorful.
Since our inception, Louise has been there, day in and day out. In 2014, Louise was recognized by the Rogue Valley Messenger, as the Non-Profit Volunteer of the Year. Had there been a non-profit volunteer of the decade award, we think Louise would have earned that also.
Throughout the years of SOCAN, our Government Group, now the Federal and State Project, has organized excursions to Salem to lobby and/or demonstrate in support of comprehensive greenhouse gas emissions reduction legislation. We cannot recall a Salem excursion when Louise was not front and center. For most of our existence, Louise was a consistent participant in this team, including in the organization of candidate forum after forum where Louise served frequently and so ably and forcefully as the timekeeper.
In 2014, Eric Dittmer suggested that SOCAN organize a regional climate summit. Louise was among the first to volunteer to join the organizing team and was critical to our securing funds and speakers to make the event a success.
Before Covid (we think of it as BC) and now after COVID, SOCAN was annually represented by a booth at the Rogue Valley Earth Day in Ashland as well as other Earth Day events around the region. We also marched annually in the Ashland July 4th Parade. Louise was always among the first to sign up for both events and was an enthusiastic participant, sometimes riding her bicycle to underscore the value of carbon-free transportation.
In 2016, a team of SOCANistas decided to actualize a long-time SOCAN dream of developing a climate change course to help fulfill our mission of promoting understanding and awareness of the science of climate change and promoting individual and collective action to address it. This resulted in our Master Climate Protector – A Primer for Action course. With planning now underway for its 8th offering starting in February 2023, the MCP course has graduated over 100 Oregonians. Louise was among the first to join the team, and notably was willing to step out of her comfort zone to teach two of the sessions in the ten-week course. When we were forced to adjust to the ZOOM technology by COVID, Louise stepped even further out of that comfort zone to teach these sessions on ZOOM.
When it came to promoting climate action in Ashland, Louise had no peer. She served on the citizen committee developing the Climate and Energy Action Plan, was a constant visitor to the Ashland City Council meetings offering almost monthly public comment on what the council was or was not doing. Indeed, at one point, Louise even threw her hat in the ring as a volunteer to replace a council member who resigned. Though unsuccessful in this effort, she continued to monitor the council and offer her insights.
It is difficult to imagine an aspect of SOCAN that has not benefitted from Louise’s energy and enthusiasm. It is equally difficult to imagine SOCAN without Louise.
As anyone engaged in environmental issues in Oregon will know, Louise had a hand in almost everything happening. She was very much engaged with the Master Gardener and Master Recycler programs – on which our MCP course was modelled – hence the 2014 award mentioned above.
Throughout her engagement in environmental issues, we must acknowledge that probably none of us has been as consistent in expressing and reminding everyone of the need to be concerned about the social justice elements of climate action as Louise. Through her near-monthly contributions of letters to the editors of local, regional, and sometimes statewide papers, Louise kept folks informed about what they should and should not be doing if we wish to live in just harmony with a healthy sustainable environment. Indeed, if we had Louise’s collected letters, we could probably publish a book.
Finally, we note how generous Louise was, year after year, in throwing her home open for SOCAN social gatherings – winter and summer alike.
It is thus with the greatest sadness that we acknowledge Louise’s passing. After suffering an illness that offered no positive resolution, Louise courageously decided to take the ‘Death with Dignity’ route; her indomitable spirit passed from this earth on November 4th.
It is difficult to imagine SOCAN without the physical presence of such a redoubtable climate and social justice champion. However, the beacon of Louise’s human decency, energy, enthusiasm, and strength, will fortify us for years to come.
Alan Journet & Kathy Conway SOCAN Co-facilitators
November 2022
Louise
Fierce
Always Fierce
Fighting for her neighbors
Fighting for Ashland city
Fighting for our country, environment, and planet
I feel restless
I am lazy, and idle
My heart aches
My tears well in my eyes
Longing for her smile
Big joyous smile
I would call her to speak with Louise
A big ‘Hi Dougie’ rings across the line
My heart is lifted, hopeful
and Cared for
Passion oozes from her
Any topic can be treated
By Louise with passion
I am cuddled by her mind
Passion
Caring
Joyous
and
Fierce… Louise
Doug Hansen – 11/06/22
Bob Schleen
Bob had a powerful connection with all living things. People, animals, and plants thrived under his care. Babies loved him. Everyone knew him for his warm, enthusiastic hugs. He was a wise, caring, intelligent person who lived a life of deep service to others. As he approached death with acceptance and appreciation, he revealed what it means to be a good person having hard things happen.
Robert John Scheelen, 75, was born January 11, 1945 to Hans and Alma Scheelen in New York City. An only child, he was left an orphan at 18. His grief led him to a life of helping others. He met the light of his heart, Dolores, at age 31 and received her children as his own. John, Jennifer, and Noelle opened their hearts to him and became his family. His “Little Brother” Marvin became a son by choice. They and their children remained his greatest source of pride.
Bob was exacting but fun, involved but objective. His trip to a concentration camp in Germany during college reinforced in him the desire to do the right thing, whether giving blood (proud to donate 25 gallons) or fighting for the environment. He sought perspective through science but never forgot spirit. Neither personal nor public opinion kept him from saying or doing what he thought best. He expressed his opinions in articulate, carefully crafted letters to the editor on a regular basis.
Bob was a fierce advocate for children, families, and community work. He started his career in Child Welfare as a case worker, became a supervisor, and eventually was Assistant Regional Administrator. In that role Bob flourished, leading the organization to collaborate closely with other groups to provide quality services to the most vulnerable clients. He led a Quality Assurance program that was recognized and emulated across Oregon.
Bob set about peacemaking wherever and whenever he could. He received Conscientious Objector status from his draft board which approved very few applicants. In college and later he protested against the war in Vietnam and was an active member of Beyond War and other groups in the 1980s and 1990s. He valued his participation in his Political Group and other dialogue endeavors which strove to include views across the spectrum.
Bob was a powerful listener, to those who agreed with him and those who had a different view. He was skilled in moving a group forward despite conflicts. He remained steady and clear, able to set firm limits when necessary. He treated everyone with respect, whether met with gratitude or threats.
In 2008 after retirement, Bob and Dolores volunteered with Ummeed Child Development Center in Mumbai, India, for three months a year over a ten-year period. Bob nurtured the young non-profit’s management team as Ummeed grew to be a national force in India. He strengthened organizational practices and mentored many individuals. His input continued during his long illness and his Ummeed connections were a cherished part of his last years.
As a mentor in any setting, Bob made a difference in people’s lives. He helped them to be better than they knew they could be and always gave the credit to them.
Bob was an avid reader on a wide range of topics, and generously shared his knowledge in lively discussions and action groups. He practiced meditation and tai chi. He loved racquetball, cycling, and walking, especially along bodies of water. He and Dolores traveled with their daughters in China, backtracking by train and riding the Trans-Siberian Railway from Beijing to Moscow. They visited son John and his wife Kristina in India, Uganda, and the Dominican Republic.
Bob leaves much love behind in many friends and in his family: John (Kristina), Jennifer (Toby), Noelle (Tom), Marvin (Joyce) and grandchildren (Jack, Olin, Aidan, Lilly, Emma, and Keira).
Bob will live in our hearts forever.
Our Dedication to those who Dedicated Themselves to Climate Action.
