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With great sadness, we announce the passing of Matt Dynan, a member of the board of directors of Sustainable Stillwater MN.
Matt passed away suddenly last week from an apparent heart attack, according to his sister. Matt headed up our home energy conservation workgroup.
Board Member Louise Watson, who introduced Matt to the board in the fall of 2019, writes:
“I met Matt one late evening after work, bicycling from his home at Valley View Park in Oak Park Heights. He wanted to learn more about Sustainable Stillwater MN. In April 2020, he offered to adopt a rain garden in the Lily Lake watershed, and in May he sent us his resume to offer his credentials for a position on the Board of Directors.
We were delighted to see the breadth of important sustainability experience he had accumulated and to see he had earned a Master’s Degree in Sustainability from the University of Wisconsin St. Croix Falls campus. His two main areas of focus were energy conservation and natural resources, and his work experience included fieldwork with the Nature Conservancy, the U.S. Forest Service, Prairie Restorations, MN DNR fire response and prescribed burn experience, as well as buckthorn removal projects.
Matt also assisted with the Buckthorn Bust at Lily Lake Park in December 2020, and in 2021 started developing an energy conservation program. Matt also loved music and wrote and performed his own songs.
His life was cut short way too early, and we have only the beginnings of his enthusiastic energy conservation program development ideas.
He remains in our hearts as our quiet, steadfast partner in the very important business of becoming a more sustainable city. Stillwater has lost a dedicated advocate for sustainability. To preserve his legacy, the Sustainable Stillwater MN Board of Directors will find a way to honor his efforts, and we hope the community will seize this moment to step forward toward sustainability for Matt. He cared about our future."
His family holds a celebration of his life on August 19, 4-7 pm at White Eagle Golf Club in Hudson, WI. There will be a group prayer and blessing at 5 pm. All are invited. The family requests in Matt's memory to make a donation to Sustainable Stillwater MN or Valley Outreach.