In Memoriam – John Litz, PLAN Jeffco Founder

John Litz at the PLAN Jeffco 40th Anniversary celebration, 2012

It is with heavy hearts that we come to you with news of the passing of one of our own, John Litz. There are some people for whom words are just not enough.

John was an original founder of PLAN Jeffco, the keeper of Open Space histories and teacher of conservation methods. His accomplishments are too numerous to list, his encyclopedic knowledge of land and conservation opportunities profound.

When I joined the PLAN Jeffco Board in 2006, I was in the company of Open Space legends – the very people, ordinary citizens all, who had the foresight and the energy to manifest Jeffco Open Space. They had fought long and hard to make Open Space what it is today, a national gem in Open Space programs. They nurtured and guided Open Space through the decades. Margot Zallen, Bette Seeland, Ann Bonnell and John Litz took me under their wings, tutored me in how to become a conservation activist, how to ensure that Jeffco Open Space stayed aligned with the Enabling Resolution. I will be forever grateful for their patience and their guidance.

When Margot left Colorado to join her family in Oregon, she handed me the reins to PLAN Jeffco. She knew that she was leaving me in good hands with John, who was there, every month, every time I had a question, every time I needed to understand how to do something. His departure, expected and inevitable, has left a huge hole in my heart, and a strong desire to live up to his faith in my ability to carry the torch of PLAN Jeffco.

For John, for PLAN Jeffco, for Jeffco Open Space, I will do my very best.  …Michelle Poolet, President ProTem

I wrote the following poem in tribute to John and Ann while I was in Berlin with the attached photo of the location where I happened to be in Berlin when I learned of John’s passing.   The photo, however, is from 2018 as explained in the poem.

Bodestrassee, Museum Island, Berlin, Germany

In memoriam for John Litz and Ann Bonnell

Speaking of marvels, I [was] alive together

with you, when I might have been alive

with anyone under the sun . . .

—Lisel Mueller, Alive Together.

IN PASSING

I’m on Bodestrasse when I get the news about John.  I’d already known about Ann but it takes a bit of time to write about how lovely it was to have been alive together with the two of you.

John, no one I’ve met displayed a fiercer intelligence on each and every subject you cared about, including the preservation of the natural world.

Ann, the same can be said of you—who suffered no fools or challenges in your pursuit of all things ornithological, ensuring that there will always be birds.

You know, I’ve been at this spot before.  It was during a wonderful summer visit with my cousins, Leo and  Linda.  We watched a young woman reading under the light here.

It was the perfect evening to a beautiful day.  I still like to think that she was reading Hegel or Heidegger or that whatever it was, it was something beyond me:

few ever say it—and you’d both think it impolite—but this is safely said:  those whom we admire and thus choose to point the way, are the smarter among us. …Peter Ruben Morales, Vice-President ProTem

CCC Gateway Segment Cable Cutting 20210925 – Jean, Michelle & John

When I think of John as a person, the words that come to mind are:  pragmatic, visionary, and persistent. His passing, after half a century of applying those traits to the betterment of Jefferson County’s open spaces, leaves a huge void in the ranks of our effective environmental advocates and in our knowledge of how our open spaces came to be as they are.  John did not just think about, or appreciate, or talk about the value of open spaces for their ecological and human values, he acted on their behalf.  His presence and all that it embodied will be missed.  …Jean Tate, Treasurer ProTem

PLAN Jeffco in the cemetery, 1972

Remembering John.

John was a quiet leader. You could always count on him to come to well-reasoned decisions.

He knew how to research and gather the information needed to make good decisions.

He was a team player. He always did more than his share, although it was hard to get him to share responsibilities.

He was generous – with his time and resources.

It was a privilege to know and to work with him. He leaves a large gap, impossible to fill. …Bette Seeland, Founder Board Secretary

Academy Team at the Mountaineering Center – Academy 2023-04-29

I first encountered John at an information session hosted by my state representative – the topic was land preservation and John spoke on the history of PLAN Jeffco and the origins of JCOS. Only then did I realize that a dedicated group of citizens was responsible for establishing the Open Space park system that I had enjoyed all these years. When the opportunity came my way to join PLAN Jeffco, I was thrilled for the chance to learn from these rock stars! I came to know John as extremely knowledgeable – I think he knew every parcel of land larger than 40 acres in the county, who owned it, what it was used for, whether it was a candidate for preservation, and how it might be obtained. John was also a kind and decent man – warm, and generous with his time and expertise. His departure leaves a gaping hole in the Jeffco conservation community. I’m sure that there’s so much more that I could have learned from John, but I am grateful to have had this blessing in my life. …Catherine Schramm, Board Member

John Litz field tripping in Clear Creek OS Park circa 2010 – courtesy of Anne Friant

I did not know John all that long, so there’s not a lot of history with him to remember.  He was skeptical of me joining the PJ Board, ostensibly because he didn’t know me.  He warmed a little over time, but I can’t say we were friends.   All that said, he was impressive, not only for his accomplishments, but for being remarkably knowledgeable about so many things!  He could tell you about virtually every little corner of the County, particularly the JCOS parks, not to mention being up-to-speed on the current County and JCOS affairs.  I will miss him for his encyclopedic knowledge, and I’m sure most people whose paths crossed with him will feel the loss. …Fred Naess, Board Member

John Litz named to the Jefferson County Hall of Fame 2022

John was a key member of the group who got Jefferson County Open Space started and was a lifelong member of OSAC. Everyone who walks, runs, bikes, rides, etc. on our wonderful open space parks here in JEFFCO owes him and his comrades a huge debt of gratitude. The greatest honor we can do him and the beautiful open space he helped create is to be grateful for it, and to think about the legacy he left. Please be more selfless, compassionate, patient in his honor, and think about what YOU can do to protect the legacy, both in how we treat each other but also how we treat the land, the trails, the flora and fauna that live in these open spaces. Please be courteous. For 2024 let’s all be more selfless and less selfish, in small ways, in big ways. They all count. Thank you. For John. For me. For you. For the baby birds. For the deer. For everyone. …Lydia Andrews-Jones, Board Member

John Litz, JCOS Volunteer Picnic, circa summer 2021 – courtesy of Anne Friant

As a pioneering member of PLAN Jeffco, John Litz was one of our touchstones with the past. Not only did he possess deep knowledge of the evolution of Open Space and PLAN Jeffco, he was also the person who volunteered the most loyally and prolifically. He was unassuming but brilliant at the same time. John was both treasurer as well as newsletter editor. He was a member of the Open Space Advisory Commission for 30 years. John regularly volunteered his living room for meetings and hosted the annual Christmas party. He helped with the marketing and sale of artwork for PLAN Jeffco’s outdoor painting fund-raiser, In Plein Sight. He never said he was too busy to do one more thing. His work identifying desirable parkland and staving off development over the years has vastly improved the quality of life for thousands of Jefferson County and Front Range residents.   …Vicky Gits, Board Member

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