As we turn the page to November, I want to share some thoughts about Ken Zarker.
I hired Ken away from TX and into WA 16 years ago. What a smart move!
He was my friend and colleague, and I miss him deeply.
Dee Williams said this to me the other day: “There’s a big hole in the universe right now.” I know many of us are feeling that, and it’s going to take a while for that feeling to subside.
The world has lost a wonderful human being and tireless environmental champion.
I’ve been reflecting on what Ken meant to the program.
Ken Zarker is really synonymous with pollution prevention, in Washington and nationally.
He had such a wide reach and his hand in so many cookie jars. He was an inspiration to and lifeblood of so many state and national efforts and organizations – ECOS, IC2, the list goes on.
In HWTR, Saskia VanBergen summed up Ken in a way that really resonated with me: “He was a disruptor but a rule follower. He could see whole systems. He brainstormed with colleagues and then turned those ideas into reality.”
Ken’s list of accomplishments is long:
He was a driving force on things like TSCA reform, the creation of state and national guidance for how to do AA’s, he won national awards for his work in reducing priority chemicals, supporting EPA’s Safer Choice program, and championing green chemistry.
But Ken’s legacy is not just the work he did; it was also how he went about his work.
Friends and colleagues from the program and around the country have described Ken in these words:
A true public servant; the ultimate team player; a gentle force; a wave maker in the best possible way; a charmer; an upbeat collaborator; an amazing motivator of people; and having a smile that could get him almost anything he wanted!
I wholeheartedly agree those descriptions fit because Ken was wholehearted in the love of his work and colleagues.
It is hard right now to think of life without the sunshine that Ken brought to the office every single day. Even when he was battling cancer, not once did I hear a negative word or complaint from him. Ever.
Lately, when I come up for air in the breaks between grief, I ask myself: “So what would Ken have us do?”
I’m pretty sure he’d say let’s keep everything he was working on, everything he believed so strongly in, alive and going. And make it even better.
So as we move through this deep loss, and as we celebrate and honor and grieve Ken, I think he’d ask each of us what we can do to step up and carry on his important work on toxics reduction and pollution prevention. Or to do whatever job you have in HWTR with gusto and passion every single day. So we will do that.
You all were near and dear to Ken. You were his work family. He loved you and we love him.
I am grateful to everyone for their outpouring of support for each other and Ken’s family. On Ken’s behalf, I want to thank all of you for your effort on TR and P2, compliance and cleanup, and urge you to carry on and continue to stick together.
If you need someone to talk to, we have professionals at the Employee Assistance Program ready to help. Thank you for listening and be well.