John Robinson was everything to Heal the Ocean. In our early days he got out in the field with us, created the first septic system map for Santa Barbara as a gift from Heal the Ocean to the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors, invented the Abtech storm water filter and set about on foot to investigate Montecito creeks to see if a test area could be done for a Heal the Ocean “Adopt-a-Drain” program. With his wife Francesca Cava (a NOAA captain), he brought in the huge NOAA ship MacArthur, to anchor over the Montecito sanitary district outfall in 30 feet of water, so that Francesca could pilot from its deck the Deep Rover submersible to film the outfall. John did all this with and for us – and more. We will love him forever and miss him greatly.

Please read about John in this article on Santa Barbara on-line news outlet, The Independent, written by HTO executive director Hillary Hauser, with the help of Francesca.

Francesca has asked that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Heal the Ocean in John’s memory. You can donate here.