John D. 'Jack' Pingree Jr., 49

MILTON - John D. "Jack" Pingree Jr., of Milton, passed away at his home on Monday, March 31, 2008. He was 49.

Jack was the manager of the Shellfish and Recreational Water Branch of the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control for the state of Delaware.

A well known environmentalist, he was a negotiator of many of the state's ocean beaches and shellfish agreements.

He was a pioneer in implementing the state of Delaware's beach water program and an advocate for the shellfish industry.

Jack was a man of diplomacy, a leader and most of all made a difference in the many lives that he touched.

Born in Wilmington, on Oct. 17, 1958, he grew up in the Oaklands development in Newark.

Attending Newark public schools from the first to the 12th grade, Jack graduated in 1976.

He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Delaware in 1980.

After graduation, Jack lived most of his adult life in Sussex County, moving to Broadkill Beach in 1987.

Jack was a member of Pi Kappa Alpha, better known as the "Pikes," at the University of Delaware.

He was a renaissance man, loved nature and enjoyed working to protect the environment, as well as he did hunting with his buddies at MJP&M Hunting.

Jack was a man who would help anyone with a project, caring to a fault.

He enjoyed writing, painting, music, cooking, history, New Orleans, and most of all Key West.

Jack belonged to many organizations including serving as a board member of the Interstate Shellfish Sanitation Conference representing the state of Delaware and the shellfish industry.

He was an advocate for the seafood industry.

He enjoyed the Dewey Beach Lions Club meetings and held a director's position.

He also got pleasure from politics, was a supporter of the environment and was secretary of the Sussex County LWV.

He looked forward to working the piping competition as a Piping Stewart and bartender each year with the Scottish Games. Ian Johnstone will miss him!

Jack was a man of dreams, looking for the best in everyone and the nice thing is he always found it!

Being an optimist, he would always look for the silver lining.

With energy, passion and humor, Jack could save the day, and always got the job done.

Most of all he loved his animals, both wild and domestic. Jack will always be sadly missed by everyone who crossed his path.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Helen A. Vossbrinck.

Jack is survived by his father and stepmother, John and Teresa Pingree; his sister and brother-in-law, Anne and Frank Smith and their children Matt and Hilary; and his best friend, Debbie Lee Rouse.

He especially loved Dr. Bob Eckrode and his wife Charlene, as well as two lifelong friends from high school, Bob Eckrode and C.W. Angelet; and his beach friends, Lee Swift, Lynn Shugart and her parents, Nelson and Clare.

A memorial service and reception will be 3 p.m. Friday in the University of Delaware Virden Retreat Center, 700 Pilottown Road, Lewes, with Father Crowder officiating at the service.

Instead of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to John Pingree Environmental Scholarship Fund, c/o Delaware Community Foundation, 36 The Circle, Georgetown, DE 19947.

Arrangements by Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, Lewes.