Working Towards a Nuclear-Free Future While Remembering Our Past
In September of last year, we lost SAPL’s founding president, John W. Parker, at the age of 92. The Seacoast Anti-Pollution League would like to pay tribute to John and take this opportunity to honor the men and women who forged our way and set the Seacoast Anti-Pollution League on a path of activism and advocacy that continues through today.
John W. Parker: Founder & President
John was an extraordinary man. If you take a moment to read his obituary, you will get just a glimpse of this very talented and thoughtful individual!
(PHOTO) John was an avid runner right up to the age of 88. He was a member of the New England 65+ Running Club Hall of Fame, and he ran the Mt Washington foot race seven times – his 7th time at the age of 72!
Although he was not able to attend the event, John provided some historical documents and materials for SAPL’s 50th anniversary celebration in 2019. You can also read an article John is remembered and dearly missed by many of his longtime SAPL friends!
Leaders in Activism & Advocacy
We consider ourselves very lucky to have had John as our very first president in 1969. Over the years, John served on the board and as an officer alongside other intellectual giants, community lovers, and activists of the day: Walter Tingle, Peter Randall, Susan Youngs, the late Stuart and Holly Meikeljohn, and the late Captain Neil MacPherson, Ruth Stimson, and Marguerite Fisk.
We would also like to take this time to pay tribute to the many additional, talented, and committed folks who recognized the threat that a nuclear plant in Seabrook posed to Seacoast residents and chose to act. These local community members, among many others, worked diligently to support and promote SAPL in its legal efforts to oppose the construction, operation, and extended operating license of Seabrook Station:
“Earthquake” Dolly Weinhold • Mark Kelley • The late Henry “Ed” and Claire Dumaine • Peter Vandermark • Susan and Bill Hamilton • Judy Randall • Phil and the late Nancy McDonough • Jane Doughty • the late Cathy Tingle • SAPL Attorney-Bob Backus • the late Will Brown • former State Senator Beverly Hollingworth • former NH State Representative Roberta “Bobbi” Pevear • Joanie and the late Charlie Pratt • Carol Hollis • Former State Senator Katie Wheeler • Past Vice-President Randy Kezar • Past Treasurer Patty Warren • the Wagner Family at Applecrest Farms of Hampton Falls
We thank them all for forging our way and setting the Seacoast Anti-Pollution League on a path of activism and advocacy that continues through today.
(PHOTO) Shown below, SAPL founders John Parker and Walter Tingle were quoted in the 1969 Life magazine article, “War Over the Peaceful Atom: As the fear of contamination grows and public protest rises, the bright hope of nuclear energy as a major power source in the immediate future seems to be fading.”
Continue John’s Legacy of Activism
As requested by John and his family, donations in his name will be gratefully received by SAPL. You may donate online or by mail:
Seacoast Anti-Pollution League
PO BOX 1136
Portsmouth, NH 03802
Thank you for your support as we enter our 55th year of promoting sustainable energy alternatives such as solar and offshore wind!
Herb Moyer, SAPL President
Peter Barrett Schmidt, Vice President
Doug Bogen, Executive Director
Retired UNH Professor, Bill Woodward, Secretary
Jarda Hutar, Treasurer
Read more
- The History of SAPL
- Read the Life article that quotes John Parker and Walter Tingle: War Over the Peaceful Atom
“War Over the Peaceful Atom.” Life, 12 Sep 1969, p26-33.
