Conservation Community Mourns the Passing of Nick DiPasquale, Former Director of EPA's Chesapeake Bay Program

(ANNAPOLIS, MD)—Nick DiPasquale, who served as the Director of the Chesapeake Bay Program Office from 2011 to 2017, passed away at his home Thursday in Chestertown, Maryland. DiPasquale had more than 35 years of public policy and environmental management experience in both the public and private sectors. In addition to serving as Director of the Bay Program, DiPasquale was the Deputy Secretary for Air, Waste & Radiation Protection in the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection; Director of the Environmental Management Center for the Brandywine Conservancy in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania; and, Secretary of the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control. As Bay Program Director, he steered the passage and implementation of the 2014 Chesapeake Bay Agreement, which guides our work today. In recognition for his service, DiPasquale was recognized as an "Admiral of the Chesapeake," the highest honor the governor of Maryland can bestow on an individual for their environmental contributions.

In response, Choose Clean Water Coalition Director Kristin Reilly issued the following statement:

"The Chesapeake community has lost an incredible voice and advocate. Throughout his entire career, Nick possessed an unflappable commitment to clean water and protecting our most precious natural resources. He centered partnerships in meeting our collective goals and had an uncanny ability to bridge divides and build consensus, which played a critical role in moving restoration efforts forward for clean water in our region. The Coalition was thrilled to honor Nick with our 'Clean Water Champion' award in 2018 for his lifetime of service.

"But for countless colleagues, partners, and friends, Nick's enduring legacy is far greater than his lengthy list of professional accomplishments. I had the pleasure of working with Nick early in my career and I will personally remember his staunch support for young professionals making their way through our field. The example he set of leadership and collaboration is one that should serve as an example to us all. We will also remember Nick for his thoughtfulness, integrity, and his irreverent sense of humor.

"As we look to the future of Bay restoration efforts, we owe a debt of gratitude to the foundation Nick has laid, and are well-served to follow in his footsteps as we work to leave a legacy of clean water to future generations."

The Choose Clean Water Coalition is an organization that harnesses the collective power of more than 275 local, state, regional and national groups to advocate for clean rivers and streams in all communities in the Chesapeake region.

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Header photo: Nick DiPasquale receives the Choose Clean Water Coalition’s "Clean Water Champion" Award at the Choose Clean Water Conference in May 2018.

Media Contact:
Drew Robinson
443-927-8049
RobinsonAQ@nwf.org