About John Manty
John Manty died suddenly on January 27, 1996 from a heart attack at his home in Dollar Bay, Michigan.
John was a dedicated grassroots activist who devoted almost all his time – most of it on a volunteer basis – to working to protect Lake Superior. John was a very active member of the Upper Peninsula Environmental Coalition and the Lake Superior Alliance. John was also a board member of Great Lakes United.
John and Eugene and Janet Avery were the objects of a vicious libel suit brought on by their determined opposition to a mining proposal in Michigan’s Keeweenaw Peninsula. Great Lakes Minerals, Inc., pursued this financial suit for over three years, but John and the Averys were twice vindicated in Michigan courts.
An inspired writer and excellent editor, John wrote for and edited Superior Vision, the Lake Superior Alliance’s newsletter.
John was a member of the Lake Superior Forum, the binational multi-stakeholder advisory committee to the governments on the Zero Discharge Demonstration Program for Lake Superior. At that forum, in the midst of often difficult opposition, John always spoke out strongly for the well-being of Lake Superior and adamantly pushed for the principles in the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement.
John was a generous, gentle and warm spirit. His smile always embraced those he met. A highly principled person, John always made sure that his actions were contributing to the well-being of others.
We miss John as a fellow activist and as a special friend.
-- John Jackson |
