Who will watch the store now that he is gone?

Dr. Jan Vandersloot.....was our personal hero! He
marched across difficult terrain, when going another
way may have been easier. He applied himself each
day with a renewed fervor.....a renewal of spirit
that was infectious. He wanted to make people aware
that San Diego and other places around our nation....
may not be doing the right thing. He asked us to attend
meetings with him. He stood tall when no one else would.
Dr. Jan's solitary presence, at not only City Council
Meetings, Country Boards and State Commissions told of
someone truly dedicated to a better world. Someone who
would show by example; rather than just shouting from the
roof tops or spouting off for an uninterested audience!

Some people in life that serve as role models are later
to be named for streets, parks, open space, buildings
and even sometimes with a bronze statue. What they have
accomplished could be of little consequence...perhaps
family or powerful friends fronted the cash for these
endeavors. So it would be easy to be cynical about the
process of being grateful to those that have served
without a desire to be remembered. What was in it for
them? "A better world!" comes to mind when the name of
Dr. Jan Vandersloot is mentioned!

Dr. Jan Vandersloot, marched ahead with facts, figures,
study and a targeted desire......to move things forward
and to save our "Quality of Life" for not only our
progeny but those that would survive the years with
memories of wonder and beauty that once existed before
"Redevelopment or Naked Progress" that would take our
community and make it into something that was without
beauty or at worst, simply unlivable.

Water quality, Open Space and the beauty of trees and
plants.......were protected by Dr. Jan and his warrior
mentality. He stood tall, he asked the tough questions
and he offered solutions. He did all this....without pay
or self-aggrandizing purpose. He did it, because he knew
that if no one did it....the worst could happen and most
likely leave us depleted in spirit and in the beauty of
our environment!

Dr. Jan Vandersloot should be remembered. Should be
honored by our City, our County and our State. His
passing on November 5th, 2009 came too early. The people
standing in line to replace his tireless energy are not
only too few - but without his amazing knowledge! We
need to honor his memory with a Park,a street or Open
Space..marked by his name!

Thank you Dr. Jan, but the Lord has taken you too early.
We needed you to stick around a lot longer. We needed
for you to bring that tireless energy back to the Dias,
time after time - to protect us!

To his family and friends, the citizens of Newport Beach,
Orange County and California...and even the patients of
his caring, healing Dermatology practice - God bless us
all. We will remember you Dr. Jan and do our best to
walk a tiny step or two in your shadow!

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In Memoriam Jan Vandersloot, MD

And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. Galatians 6:9

No one exemplified these words better than Jan Vandersloot, medical doctor, environmentalist, and family man. He was generous with his time and his money, and we are thankful to him as well as to Cheryl, Jon and Tiffany.

I first met Jan about twenty years ago, though I’d seen his numerous and eloquent letters to the editor before that. I was a city planner at Newport Beach and he called about illegal fill of a wetland. Someone in the office said “that Dr. Vandersloot” always had some complaint. Still, I arranged to meet Jan at the site along with a biologist and, lo and behold, a wetland was being illegally filled.

After that, I got many calls from Jan. Sometimes he’d be reporting habitat damage, or illegal dumping. I learned that when “that Dr. Vandersloot” called, it was something I really needed to check out. If he had a complaint it was well-founded and well-researched. Unlike some residents who called regularly, Jan was concerned about all areas of the city and beyond, not just matters within a block or two of his house.

Sometimes he was just looking for information. For Jan, there was no such thing as too much information.

Years later, after I’d left the City and was involved in various causes, many at the prodding of Jan, my house was overrun with environmental impact reports (EIRs) and other studies. Jan stopped by about some project. I was mortified at the boxes of documents spilling into the living room. Jan was delighted.

Jan had a way of pulling people into his causes. Bolsa Chica, Ocean Outfall Group, San Diego Creek, trees on the Peninsula. He put so much into so many causes, how could you not help at least a little? Almost daily there’d be e-mail from Jan with calls to action, research requests, or outlines of potential strategies for ongoing projects.

As he toiled to end the Orange Count Sanitation District’s waiver from federal clean water law, he’d ask not IF you’d attend any meetings to speak against the waiver, but WHICH meetings in which cities you’d attend. Eventually Jan, or in rare cases a surrogate, spoke before every city council and sanitary district in Orange County, usually with a few others in tow, but alone if need be.

Jan didn’t care if he was the only one to stand up and fight for something. If it was the right thing to do, he was there.

It wasn’t all just hearings and meetings. I especially appreciate the work he did at Fairview Park. Jan advocated for the park at hearings and also weeded and planted plants, sometimes with a group, sometimes with just one other person, like Gil Collins, sometimes alone.Though I’d been involved in Fairview earlier on, soon Jan surpassed me in his knowledge and dedication to improving habitat at the park. I’d be out for a hike and there was Jan, clearing away the anise choking out native species. Seeing his hard work, I’d go back to my car for an extra bag to pick up trash along the way. How could I not?

We distributed flyers at election time. Of course, if you and Jan covered opposite sides of a street, you really had to hustle. With his long legs he’d finish the distance long before you.

Jan really loved to celebrate the big wins. And he hated to lose. After a setback, he’d be seeking other strategies. Was there a way to appeal? Another agency involved? Should we litigate? Any other options?

Jan just did not give up. If we’d finally run out of options, he’d be planning how we could handle a similar situation “next time”. Unfortunately, now there is no “next time” with Jan.

Today, we are able to reap what Jan so diligently sowed and tended: Open space at Bolsa Chica, cleaner beaches, wetlands, trees, and habitat in various areas. What a tremendous legacy!

Perhaps an even greater legacy is the army of activist that Jan has encouraged and mentored over the years. Now we must continue in well-doing, that we and others may reap in the years to come. How could we not?

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