On Sept. 9, 2008, the Pima County Board of Supervisors named the Starr Pass trailhead in honor of Rich. Read about the Dedication that was held at 11 am on Nov. 15 for the Richard E. Genser Starr Pass Trailhead.
Read the Board Agenda for Sept. 9, 2008.
Rich was a former Board Member of Save the Scenic Santa Ritas, and a tremendous help in our efforts to protect the Santa Ritas. He was an active member of the Rincon Group of the Sierra Club, and the Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection. Those of us who were lucky enough to know him will never forget his wacky sense of humor, his boundless generosity, his passion for protecting the environment, and his great love of everything out doors. He was a great inspiration to me, and I'm grateful to have known him and his wonderful wife Claire. We send our deepest sympathy to his family. We all will miss Rich greatly.
We have lost a good one, and my heart goes out to his family."
--Carolyn Campbell, Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection
"Our dear friend Rich Genser died yesterday. He was back visiting friends and family in Tucson when he had a heart attack a couple of weeks ago. There were subsequent complications and yesterday, life support was removed. His family was with Rich when he died. Rich was a good friend to so many here in Arizona and in the Sierra Club and I can think of no one who was more full of life. He loved Arizona, he loved the Earth, and he loved the Sierra Club and all of his many friends here.
Rich also loved a good fight (for the environment) and helped us with numerous efforts -- some of them successful such as fighting the first takings battle - and some of them less so such as our Growth Management Initiative in 2000. He did so much for the Sierra Club, for our chapter, and for our local group, that it is difficult to know where to start. He stepped up to chair the chapter when needed, stepped up to chair our fundraising committee when needed, and chaired our local Rincon Group. He also helped lead and support the Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection. He would go to meetings when we needed a representative there. He would come help with a service project when we needed help. I could go on . . . .
Rich was a truly caring person and would worry a lot about how people were doing. If he was going to be gone and often on email after he moved to Vermont, he would ask us to look out for someone who he thought might be a little down or having a difficult time. After a tough day at the legislature a few years ago, he surprised me with a lovely Jack Dykinga photo that is hanging over my sofa. (Seeing the desert in bloom cannot help but lift your spirit.) Our deep sympathy goes to Rich's family. Good-bye to our good friend Rich. We shall miss you and wish so much you could have stayed with us longer."
--Sandy Bahr, Sierra Club
Save the Scenic Santa Ritas gratefully acknowledges the following friends for their donation in honor of Rich Genser.
Barbara and Gerald Goldberg
David and Penny Ribnik
Sara Kerner
Elna Otter
Want to add a photo or some words in honor of Rich? Email me.
Arizona Memorial Bill in honor of Rich Genser
Congressional Memorial to Rich Genser, by Congressman Grijalva
Arizona Daily Star, Feb. 29, 2008
Arizona Daily Star, March 3, 2008
